UCF Earns NCAA Tournament Bid After Strong Big 12 Season

Knights set to make first March Madness appearance since 2019 after impressive 21-11 campaign.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:35pm

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Following a strong 21-11 season that included five Quad 1 wins and a 9-9 record in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference, the UCF Knights have earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Knights, led by head coach Johnny Dawkins, are set to make their first March Madness appearance since 2019.

Why it matters

UCF's NCAA Tournament berth marks a significant milestone for the program, which has been working to rebuild and return to the Big Dance after a several-year absence. The Knights' strong performance against top competition in the Big 12 has earned them national recognition and a chance to compete for a national championship.

The details

Despite losing three straight games to close the regular season, UCF picked up a critical win over Cincinnati at the Big 12 Tournament to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. The Knights then fell to the Arizona Wildcats in the quarterfinals, but head coach Johnny Dawkins praised the competitiveness of the Big 12 conference in preparing his team for the postseason.

  • The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET.
  • The First Four games will be played on March 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio.
  • The First and Second Round games will be held from March 19-22 in various locations across the country.

The players

Johnny Dawkins

The head coach of the UCF Knights, who has led the program's resurgence and return to the NCAA Tournament.

Cincinnati

The Knights picked up a critical win over the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Big 12 Tournament, bolstering their NCAA Tournament resume.

Arizona Wildcats

UCF fell to the Arizona Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“It's the best conference in college basketball, in my opinion. And so when you're in a conference like that, it's just so competitive from top to bottom. Every team you face is very talented. Every coach is terrific. So it just provides all kind of different challenges”

— Johnny Dawkins, Head Coach, UCF Knights

What’s next

The Knights will await their NCAA Tournament seeding and first-round opponent, which will be announced during the Selection Show on March 15th.

The takeaway

UCF's return to the NCAA Tournament after a several-year absence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaching staff. The Knights' strong performance against top Big 12 competition has earned them national recognition and a chance to compete for a national championship.