UCF Knights Square Off vs UCLA in NCAA Tournament on Friday
By UCF Knights // March 19, 2026
tipoff set for Friday at 7:25 p.m. on TBS
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – The UCF men’s basketball team is set to continue one of the most notable seasons in program history after earning a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament field.
The Knights (21-11) received an at-large bid, marking the first time in seven years the program has been selected without needing an automatic qualifier. It is just the second at-large berth in school history and the sixth NCAA Tournament appearance overall since UCF moved to Division I in 1984-85.
UCF enters the tournament as the No. 10 seed in the East Region and will face No. 7 seed UCLA (23-11) in the opening round. The matchup is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The winner of the contest will advance to face either No. 2 seed UConn or No. 15 seed Furman in the next round, adding further intrigue to a competitive region.
UCF’s return to March Madness highlights a significant milestone for the program. The Knights previously earned automatic bids in 1994, 1996, 2004, and 2005 by winning the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. Their only prior at-large selection came in 2019 during their time in the American Athletic Conference.
Meanwhile, UCLA enters the tournament with momentum despite a recent loss in the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins are considered favorites in the matchup, with ESPN analytics giving them roughly a 72% chance to advance.
For UCF, the appearance represents both a breakthrough and an opportunity to build on a historic season, as the Knights look to secure their first NCAA Tournament win since 2019 and make a deeper postseason run.
