UCF football adds Louisiana to 2027 schedule: report
UCF football has scheduled the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to its 2027 non-conference slate, according to a report.
The Knights will host the Ragin’ Cajuns at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2027, according to a copy of the game contract obtained by FBSchedules.com from Louisiana through a public-records request.
As part of the agreement, UCF will pay Louisiana a $1.3 million guarantee for the game, according to the report.
The future matchup is the second non-conference game scheduled in 2027 for the Knights, who also travel to the University of North Carolina of the ACC that season.
It’s likely that UCF will fill its last non-conference opening that year with an FCS opponent.
That’s because the Knights are headed to the Big 12 Conference next year and will go from playing one or two teams in the Power Five to nine each season in their new league.
Once in the Big 12, UCF will need just three non-conference games compared to the four needed while in the AAC.
UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir previously told the Sentinel that his scheduling philosophy changed when the Knights accepted an invitation to the Big 12.
“It changes everything,” Mohajir said previously. “We have to flip the switch on our non-conference scheduling.
“I don’t think people really realize how competitive the Big 12 is,” he added. “Going forward here, we’re trying to play one Power Five, one Group of Five and one FCS.”
Louisiana competes in the Sun Belt with schools such as Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion and Mohajir’s former school, Arkansas State.
The Knights have won all four previous football games against the Ragin’ Cajuns, the most recent a 37-19 outcome in 2007.
The Knights still need to schedule one non-conference game in ‘27, two the next year, three in ‘29 and two in 2030.
In the time since accepting the Big 12 invitation, UCF has added games against Kent State, New Hampshire, Sam Houston State, Villanova and now Louisiana for the next five years.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
