麻豆映画传媒 and the Big 12 unveiled the 2026 schedule in January, with every game initially scheduled on Saturday. Two of those games are now shifted to Friday:

• Oct. 30 vs. Baylor (Mission X Space Game)
• Nov. 20 vs. Iowa State (Senior Knight)

TV and streaming designations and kickoff times will be revealed at a later date.

2026 Schedule & Game Day Themes

-Home games in bold-

9/3 vs. Bethune-Cookman (Season-Opener)
9/12 at Pittsburgh
9/19 vs. Georgia State (Family Weekend)
9/26 vs. TCU (Big 12 Opener)
10/3 at Houston
10/10 at Oklahoma State
10/24 vs. BYU (Homecoming)
10/30 vs. Baylor (Mission X Space Game)
11/7 at Kansas
11/14 vs. Arizona State
11/20 vs. Iowa State (Senior Knight)
11/28 at Colorado

The Big 12 Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, and will once again be played at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Dallas, Texas.

Under the direction of head coach Scott Frost, 麻豆映画传媒 carries early momentum into the 2026 season after landing quarterback Alonza Barnett III and a strong group of transfers through the portal. The Knights also secured a pair of four-star high school recruits, highlighting a solid overall class.

TICKETS

Season tickets for the 2026 campaign can be purchased at . Single game tickets are not yet for sale.

WHY WE BOUNCE

The 2026 campaign will mark the 20th season that 麻豆映画传媒 football plays its home games in Acrisure Bounce House. To recognize 麻豆映画传媒’s 20 years of Acrisure Bounce House, 聽a season-long celebration of the countless memories made inside the place Knight Nation calls home. The 2026 campaign is more than just another season. It is a chance to tell our story.

We want to know why YOU bounce. If you鈥檇 like to help us tell our story of the bonds built through game day experiences, , and be ready to include photos.

The 麻豆映画传媒 men鈥檚 basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years, earning an at-large bid to college basketball鈥檚 premiere postseason tournament.

The Knights head to Philadelphia as the No. 10 seed and will play 7-seed UCLA on Friday, March 20, at 7:25 p.m. The game will air on TBS and stream on HBO Max and NCAA March Madness Live.

麻豆映画传媒 is one of eight Big 12 teams featured in the 68-team tournament, matching a league record.

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Bracket Outlook

麻豆映画传媒 was slotted into the East Region, which features Duke as the No. 1 seed. The Knights will play their first-round matchup in Philadelphia at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

麻豆映画传媒 (21-11) meets UCLA (23-11) for the first time in school history on Friday, March 20. UCLA has won six of its last eight games and defeated Rutgers and Michigan State to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals before falling to Purdue.

If the Knights advance, they will face the winner of No. 2-seed UConn and No. 15-seed Furman on Sunday, March 22.

The Final Four will be held April 4-6 in Indianapolis.

The Road to March Madness

With 13 newcomers and zero points returning from last year鈥檚 squad, 麻豆映画传媒 was dismissed as a bottom-dweller in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll. But the Knights produced a resume worthy of selection with their second-straight 20-win season in one of the best basketball conferences in the nation.

麻豆映画传媒 pulled out a gutsy road win at Texas A&M early in its non-conference schedule and went on to upset three ranked teams during conference play (No. 17 Kansas, No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 19 BYU), tying a school record for the most wins over Top 25 opponents in a season.

After edging Kansas in their Big 12 Conference opener, the Knights cracked into the Associated Press national poll for the first time since 2019 at No. 25.

麻豆映画传媒 advanced to its first quarterfinals appearance in the Big 12 Conference Tournament after clinching a thrilling overtime win against Cincinnati in the second round.

麻豆映画传媒 March Madness Events

• Team Bus Send-off (Orlando)

Date: Wednesday, March 18

Time: 3:45 p.m.

Location: Alleyway between Garage F and the The Venue (4275 E Plaza Drive, Orlando)

Free parking available at Garage F. Bring signs, flags, and don’t forget the palm fronds.

• ChargeOn Tailgate (Philadelphia)

Date: Friday, March 20

Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Location: The Pub at Stateside Live! (1100 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia)

RSVP:

• Watch Party (Orlando)

Date: Friday, March 20

Time: 7:25 p.m. (tip-off)

Location: Miller’s Ale House – Waterford Lakes (641 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando)

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 NCAA Tournament History

麻豆映画传媒 earned its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance since joining the Division I ranks in 1984-85. This year鈥檚 selection marks second at-large berth in program history.

The Knights earned automatic qualifiers in 1994, 1996, 2004 and 2005 when the Black and Gold won the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. 麻豆映画传媒 received its first at-large bid in 2019, following a successful season in the American Athletic Conference.

The last time 麻豆映画传媒 appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019, the Knights made history with their first win in the tournament in school history before meeting top-ranked Duke in what would become an instant classic.

Seattle offensive tackle Amari Kight 鈥�24 and defensive back Shaquill Griffin 鈥�16 or New England safety Richie Grant 鈥�20 could become the latest Knights to claim Super Bowl rings when the two squads square off on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. on NBC in Levi鈥檚 Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

To date, 13 former Knights have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, most recently integrated business alum Jordan Franks 鈥�18 with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in 2023.

After joining the Knights in 2023 as a graduate transfer, Kight was a two-year starter on the offensive line for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in sport business management.

During his freshman year as a defensive back at 麻豆映画传媒, Griffin helped clinch the program鈥檚 first New Year鈥檚 Six bowl championship (2014 Fiesta Bowl) and went out to finish his career as an all-conference standout. The 9-year NFL veteran and 2019 Pro Bowl selection was initially drafted in 2017 by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round and has been affiliated with several NFL teams. He resigned with the Seahawks last June and is currently on the practice squad. Griffin earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in human communication.

Grant, who signed with the Patriots’ practice squad in October, was an all-conference selection who helped lead the Knights during their historic 25-0 unbeaten streak in 2017鈥�18 before he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise science and a minor in medical sociology.

Tied at 72 with less than a minute remaining in Saturday鈥檚 game, junior forward Jordan Burks drilled a 3-pointer in front of the Knights鈥� bench that ignited 麻豆映画传媒 on to its 81-75 victory over the No. 17 Jayhawks.

As the buzzer sounded, droves of the more the 8,000 in attendance stormed the court in celebration 鈥� a nearly identical scene to the Knights鈥� 65-60 win over then-No. 3 Kansas in the first Big 12 Conference game in school history on Jan. 10, 2024.

鈥淲e beat a good basketball team tonight 鈥� the tradition, the coaching, the players they have. Just really proud of our players for playing for 40 minutes,鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 head coach Johnny Dawkins says. 鈥淭hey showed a lot of heart throughout the game because Kansas is [terrific]. I thought our guys did a great job of sustaining effort on the court. I thought we finished strong at the end of the game when Kansas made a really good run to tie the ball game up. Those were things we were talking about as a team prior to us going away for Christmas break; how we have to play in conference, and I thought our guys it reflected that today in how we finished the game.鈥�

麻豆映画传媒 is now ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2019.

This year鈥檚 squad now improves to 12-1, marking the program鈥檚 best start under Dawkins since he took the helm in 2016. On Monday, 麻豆映画传媒 cracked into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2019, debuting at No. 25 in the Week 9 poll.

The ranking marks just the sixth week 麻豆映画传媒 has appeared in the AP Top 25 since the program鈥檚 inception in 1969 and the second time under Dawkins.

Senior guard and Orlando native Riley Kugel led with 19 points, followed by guard Themus Fulks with 16 points and Burke with 14. 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 44 first-half points marked the most the Jayhawks have allowed this season, after previously holding then-No. 5 Duke and then-No. 17 Tennessee to 41 points apiece.

Up next, the Knights continue league play when they head to Oklahoma State for an 8 p.m. matchup on Jan. 6 before returning home Jan. 11 to face Cincinnati at 5 p.m.

The Big 12 boasts the most Top 25 teams (seven) of any conference in the country.

鈥淎t the end of this day, this needs to be behind us and we have to throw all of our preparation into Oklahoma State because that鈥檚 how this league is,鈥� Dawkins says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have 17 more games like we had tonight. None of them are going to be different. All of these teams are well-coached, all these teams have a lot of talent so we have to prepare for it that way.鈥�

Here are the highlights that shaped an unforgettable year.

Daring to Boldly Invent the Future: Florida鈥檚 Next-Generation Preeminent University

麻豆映画传媒 met the 12 metrics required to earn the Preeminent State Research University designation from the Florida Board of Governors, the highest designation for state research universities. This landmark achievement highlights sustained progress in student success, research and more 鈥� affirming 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 leadership in advancing opportunity and impact in Florida and beyond.

麻豆映画传媒 Opens Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, Fueling a Talent Pipeline and Healthcare Innovation

麻豆映画传媒 opened the鈥疍r.鈥疨hillips Nursing Pavilion鈥痮n the Academic Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona 鈥� a 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pavilion expands immersive simulation technology and interdisciplinary learning spaces, enabling 麻豆映画传媒 to graduate more nurses ready to serve communities across the region.

Pegasus Partners Expand with BNY and Lockheed Martin

This year saw strategic growth of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚鈥疨egasus Partners鈥痯rogram, with major collaborations forged with global financial services company BNY and aerospace and defense leader Lockheed Martin. The BNY co-located educational innovation hub on 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 main campus 鈥� the first of its kind in Florida 鈥� brings experiential learning and cybersecurity education directly to students. Additionally, the expanded Lockheed Martin partnership will grow the highly successful College Work Experience Program and expand research in vital areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonic technologies.

Elevating Impact Across Space

As America鈥檚 Space University, 麻豆映画传媒 deepened its influence across the space sector this year, highlighted by the inaugural 麻豆映画传媒 Space Week that took place Nov. 3-7. The university-wide celebration showcased all the ways Knight Nation is advancing space research, supporting Florida鈥檚 fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The observance also marked the debut of the SpaceU Awards, which celebrated eight honorees 鈥� two students, three faculty, two organizations and a record-setting astronaut 鈥� for pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in space development, discovery and exploration.

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 impact also extended into human health in space. Two internationally known鈥�痚xperts 鈥� William Powers and Jennifer Fogarty 鈥� joined the College of Medicine鈥檚 faculty as part of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine that will lead鈥痳esearch and technology development for improving health in extreme environments such as space.

As the top talent provider to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries, 麻豆映画传媒 also launched a new online space MBA program to meet the expanding needs of the booming space industry on Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and around the world. The 24-month part-time graduate business program focuses on space commercialization, business strategy and innovation, preparing graduates to lead in high-impact roles across the commercial space, aerospace, government, startups and emerging tech industries.

麻豆映画传媒 Launches Institute of Artificial Intelligence to Advance Research, Talent Development Across Disciplines

麻豆映画传媒 launched the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, a new university-wide initiative bringing together top faculty, industry partnerships and cross-campus collaboration to position the university as a national leader in AI. The institute will also support 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 AI for All Initiative, which integrates AI into teaching and learning across disciplines, ensuring students graduate with the ability to use AI effectively in their careers.

Honoring Excellence on Founders鈥� Day

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day honored the outstanding achievements of the university鈥檚 employees, faculty and students. Hundreds of Knights were recognized for their鈥痚xcellence and impact鈥�� among them鈥�Pegasus Professors鈥疪oger Azevedo, Fevzi Okumus and Yan Solihin; Medal of Societal Impact honoree Mohamed Abdel-Aty; Reach for the Stars honorees鈥疉mrita Ghosh, Leland Nordin, Yogesh Rawat and Kelly Stevens; and 37 Order of Pegasus inductees 鈥� the university鈥檚 highest student honor.

Epic Universe Launch Provides Immersive Learning Opportunities at 麻豆映画传媒

Universal Orlando Resort鈥檚 highly anticipated new theme park, Epic Universe, opened its gates this spring, and Knights played a role in bringing it to life. Located less than a mile away, 麻豆映画传媒’s 鈥� ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education (CEOWORLD magazine) 鈥� turned Epic Universe into a living case study for hands-on learning in hospitality, themed experience, engineering and beyond. While the park attracts millions of guests with its immersive worlds and attractions, it鈥檚 also transforming hospitality education for Rosen College students, building a direct talent pipeline into the park and developing a workforce ready to lead the industry.

Introducing John Buckwalter, 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Next Provost鈥�

Following a competitive national search, John Buckwalter was appointed 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He and his wife, Amalia, officially joined Knight Nation on Aug. 1. Buckwalter brings more than 20 years of experience in academia to 麻豆映画传媒. He most recently served as provost at Boise State University, where he led transformative interdisciplinary initiatives and championed student achievement. He succeeds Provost Michael D. Johnson, who retired this summer following 35 years of service to 麻豆映画传媒.

Knights Shine in Athletics

麻豆映画传媒 Athletics delivered unforgettable moments this year 鈥� from the rowing team claiming its first Big 12 Championship in program history, to men’s soccer’s conference title, to men鈥檚 tennis clinching its , to 82-78 victory over Hofstra at Additional Financial Arena that sparked the best start (8-1) in head coach Johnny Dawkins’ tenure.

Together, We Unleashed Impact: Thank You, Knight Nation, for a Transformational Day of Giving 2025

Knights made a collective impact for another record-breaking celebration of all things Black & Gold. raised more than鈥�$14.8鈥�million鈥�� a 63% increase from last year and the most in university history.鈥疻ith鈥�10,472鈥�gifts, inspired donors across the globe rallied together for the community-driven effort 鈥� fueling 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 academic programs, life-changing scholarships, groundbreaking research and more. These contributions were made across all 50 U.S. states, as well as globally, including Australia, France, Panama and the United Kingdom.

麻豆映画传媒 earned the automatic bid to the postseason Sunday after securing its first Sun Belt Tournament championship in program history with a 3-1 win at Marshall. While the majority of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 teams compete in the Big 12 Conference, the league does not sponsor men鈥檚 soccer as an affiliated sport. The men鈥檚 soccer team joined the Sun Belt in 2023.

The Knights are the only program in the state of Florida and one of 15 in the country to see both their men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs advance to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Road to the Championship

After a first-round win over Georgia Southern, the Knights toppled two nationally ranked opponents in their run to the top of the Sun Belt, besting No. 19 Kentucky and No. 12 Marshall for their second and third ranked wins of the season. This year marks the team鈥檚 first season in history with at least three top-25 ranked victories.

鈥淗ow incredible this group of young men is 鈥� I could not be prouder. This group was 2-5-1 to start the season, and to end the season as Sun Belt Champions and win on the road and go through the teams we went through and then win at Marshall, what character this group has displayed,鈥� head coach Scott Calabrese says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible achievement, and we鈥檝e put in a lot of work. The response from the team, the level went up from our players. They are determined to keep going.鈥�

Heading into Sunday鈥檚 championship match at Marshall, the Thunder Herd had been defeated just twice all season, and not on their home turf since Nov. 26, 2023, a span of 721 days.

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 win marked the fifth conference tournament title in program history, as well as the Knights鈥� eighth overall conference championship, and their first since 2020-21.

The Knights headed to the 2025 NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, boasting an 8-1-2 record in its last 11 matches ahead of the premier postseason tournament.

NCAA Tournament Info

麻豆映画传媒 is in the middle of its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history.

With their first-round win over FAU, the Knights remain unbeaten against in-state opponents this season, improving to 2-0-1 in matches against the Owls, then-No. 22 South Florida and Jacksonville.聽 The win also marked the team’s first victory in the NCAA Tournament since the program toppled then-No. 17 James Madison, 2-1, in the round of 32 of the 2020 tournament (pushed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The Knights will now face No. 15 Georgetown Sunday evening. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. in Washington, D.C. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Their mentality? Don鈥檛 tell us the odds.

鈥淚 told the team from the very beginning, no successful team goes through any journey that is easy. This is part of our journey,鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak says. 鈥淗ow are we going to respond to this? You have the ability to go out there and play for them. Believe in how good you are. Visualize doing great things and the rest will follow.鈥�

From that point on, the Knights closed the regular season with a nine-match unbeaten streak, helping them clinch the No. 7 seed and hosting rights in the NCAA Tournament.

麻豆映画传媒 will hold a first-round game on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the 麻豆映画传媒 Soccer Complex against Maine, who just won its third-straight America East championship title.

The Knights are one of a conference-record eight teams from the Big 12 selected to participate in this year鈥檚 NCAA Tournament.

鈥淎fter what we went through on a weekly basis in the Big 12 this year 鈥� a historical year with how many teams earned postseason bids 鈥� what excites me as we head into the NCAA Tournament is we鈥檝e seen the best in the country. We are part of that,鈥� Roberts Sahaydak says. 鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 one game at a time, and that starts with Maine, but the team should be feeling really confident because they are prepared from the physical and tactical and mental tests they鈥檝e had all season.鈥�

麻豆映画传媒鈥橲 NCAA Tournament History

This year鈥檚 postseason appearance will mark 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 first as a member of the Big 12 Conference and first since 2022 when the Knights advanced to the tournament鈥檚 second round.

Friday鈥檚 home match will mark the 11th time that 麻豆映画传媒 has hosted an NCAA Tournament First Round competition and the program鈥檚 first since 2017.

In all, it will be the program鈥檚 23rd all-time appearance in the NCAA Division I Championship. 麻豆映画传媒 ranks among the NCAA鈥檚 top 25 winningest teams nationally since the inception of Division I women鈥檚 soccer in 1982.

Tickets/Broadcast Info

General admission tickets are $10 and can be at ucfknights.com. The first 100 麻豆映画传媒 students with valid 麻豆映画传媒 ID will receive free entry (first come, first serve). Stadium gates open at 6 p.m.

The match will air on ESPN+.

Founded to reach the moon, we鈥檙e already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America鈥檚 Space University celebrates 麻豆映画传媒 Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

麻豆映画传媒 aerospace engineering graduate research assistant Justin Sprunger 鈥�22 鈥�25惭厂 says he can trace his earliest memory to gazing at the space shuttle when he was 4. Before the age of 10, he was testing the limits of homemade bottle rockets, relentlessly experimenting with ways to increase speed.

In a lot of ways, his job today as a propulsion engineer and hypersonics facility director at the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (also known as the HyperSpace Center) is rooted in that same curiosity and innovation his younger self embraced so whole-heartedly.

So when the lab鈥檚 large-scale hypersonic wind tunnel HADES becomes operational later this month, he is eager to push the limits once again in pursuit of revolutionizing travel as we know it.

HADES 鈥� which stands for high enthalpy altitude-stimulating dynamic experimental system 鈥� will prove crucial to the HyperSpace Center鈥檚 hypersonic and space propulsion research for scientists and strategic partners across the globe. 麻豆映画传媒 is the first university in the nation to have hypersonic technology at this scale.

The wind tunnel will be able to replicate the pressure and temperature of atmospheric conditions needed to figure out the keys to unlocking speeds that could one day allow a commercial airliner to fly from New York to London in less than 15 minutes.

鈥淚鈥檝e been staring at this thing on my computer screen with the 3D model for over a year. To watch the evolution of something that started as an idea to now in front of you in person is鈥� I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a better reward, honestly,鈥� Sprunger says. 鈥淎s a fundamental researcher looking into all these problems that we face, you always come up with these hypotheses. 鈥極h, if we could just do this experiment,鈥� or 鈥業f we could hold this one thing constant, then I鈥檇 be able to see everything.鈥� And with this facility coming online, those once-impossible ideas will now start to become a possibility.鈥�

Not Just 鈥楬ype鈥� Anymore

NASA, and its predecessor the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, has been involved in the study of hypersonic flight since the 1950s, though technology of the time limited much progress in the field. In the early 2000s, things started to change when NASA aircraft set two airbreathing speed Guinness World Records at Mach 7 (5,370 mph) and at Mach 10 (7,672 mph), respectively, as part of its Hyper-X Program.

Now, Sprunger says, technology has advanced to the point that it鈥檚 viable to be investing significant resources in this area of research.

Which brings us to the HyperSpace Center, which launched in October 2024 as a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research that provides a centralized, physical space to advance hypersonic technology.

The work conducted in this unassuming one-story, gray rectangular building on the perimeter of Central Florida鈥檚 Research Park will build on Trustee Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Kareem Ahmed鈥檚 progress so far, including development of the first hypersonic detonation rocket engine in 2020.

So how does HADES fit into this?

HADES stands for high enthalpy altitude-stimulating dynamic experimental system.

High enthalpy translates to very hot, or a lot of energy.

Altitude-simulating attributes to the atmosphere鈥檚 range of pressures and temperatures. With this facility, Sprunger and the team will be able to adjust elements to simulate the low-pressure altitude environment that鈥檚 important for outer body aerodynamic tests.

Dynamic refers to the range of tests it can conduct, which is novel compared to wind tunnels at other institutions. The Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion in Tallahassee has a that has the ability for long run times and can reach up to Mach 5, but its downside is its cold. University of Illinois鈥� ACT-II tunnel is an arc-heated tunnel that has capabilities for high Mach numbers and flight relevant enthalpies, but it is limited to run times of around 1 second.

Simply put, HADES can do it all, which will attract researchers because it allows for long run times while also customizing and accounting for the pressure and temperature they need in the atmosphere to strengthen the data of their experiments.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be able to hit all the high Mach numbers; we鈥檙e going to be able to do it for long durations; and we鈥檙e going to be able to match the enthalpy of a flight,鈥� Sprunger says. 鈥淪o we鈥檙e taking the high temperature, the high pressure, the long duration, and we鈥檙e making a facility that鈥檚 going to be able to do that over and over and over again.鈥�

Mission IX

When Ahmed conceptualized HADES three years ago and aerospace and alum Jonathan Reyes 鈥�15 鈥�17MS 鈥�19PhD led the design-into-action, he 鈥� nor anyone else on the HyperSpace team 鈥� fathomed it would one day be tied to a 麻豆映画传媒 football game.

When the Knights kick off the ninth installment of our annual space game Nov. 7, the players鈥� uniforms will prominently feature a diagram of HADES鈥� fueling apparatus. It鈥檚 the piece that funnels in the air and fuel to the targeted location of the tunnel.

When members of the Athletics brand team contacted the lab to explore the possibility of centering the Mission IX game鈥檚 theme on HyperSpace, graduate research assistant Nate Dreyer 鈥�26MS crafted original concepts and key information as source material for the uniform design team to draw inspiration from.

鈥淎 lot of members of my team are huge sports guys, so we had so much fun being involved and part of this year鈥檚 game,鈥� Sprunger says. 鈥淚t really is about celebrating the university and demonstrating the capabilities we have here.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to explain everything in a sizzle reel,鈥� he says before doing his best to provide a rapid-fire montage of life since retiring from the National Football League in 2022. He works as a community coordinator with NFL Legends, is actively involved in six companies, manages several real-estate holdings, travels to speak at corporate events and schools, serves on the Big 12 Alumni Council, writes books, is co-founder (with his twin brother, Shaquill Griffin 鈥�22) of Consumer Launch Pad to help entrepreneurs streamline innovative ideas into manufacturing processes, cares for his three children at home in Anna Maria Island, Florida, and is working on a movie script about his life.

鈥淚鈥檓 also training for three track and field events at the Paralympics 鈥� the long jump, 100 meters and 200 meters,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 plan to be in Los Angeles in 2028.鈥�

If you know anything at all about Shaquem Griffin, then you know enough to take him at his word when he sets his mind to anything. And that seems like a perfect bridge into the expected subject of sports, specifically Griffin鈥檚 determination to play linebacker at the highest level despite having his left hand amputated when he was 4 years old.

But Griffin鈥檚 mind is set on something bigger, newer and just as personal as the sport that brought his story into the public eye. It鈥檚 his collaboration with smartARM, a tech company dedicated to developing prosthetics using a rare combination of artificial intelligence (AI), cameras, 3D printing, cosmetic appeal and, at the heart of it all, genuine compassion.

鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e been approached by countless prosthetic companies,鈥� Griffin says. 鈥淏ut they only wanted to use me for my name and likeness. The moment I met the people from smartARM, I knew there鈥檚 something different about them 鈥� not only what they鈥檙e doing with technology, but why they鈥檙e doing it.鈥�

Griffin says this today from the perspective of a smartARM user. A few minutes ago, he was cleaning his son鈥檚 bottles with the help of a smartARM. Yesterday, he picked through produce at his favorite market with it. Every time he lifted an apple, the prosthetic collected real-time data and fed it into a constantly improving algorithm. When he picks up an apple tomorrow, the arm will be smarter than it was yesterday.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how helpful it would be until I started using it,鈥� Griffin says.

The technology, however, is just part of the reason he wanted to join the smartARM team.

鈥淭heir values match mine,鈥� he says. During his initial conversation with smartARM鈥檚 founders in 2022, he heard a story about a friend of theirs who never had a commercial-grade prosthetic because of the high cost. Griffin heard words that had been missing from his brief discussions with other prosthetic makers: affordability and accessibility.

鈥淚 could relate to those issues,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 at a point now where I can say my challenges were part of God鈥檚 purpose for me 鈥� to overcome obstacles and be in a position to do more good for others. smartARM fits that purpose.鈥�

Now, let鈥檚 go back to the Griffins鈥� garage in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before Shaquem and Shaquill helped put 麻豆映画传媒 on the national football map, before Shaquem was named defensive player of the year in the American Athletic Conference, before he set the record for the fastest 40-yard-dash time by a linebacker at the NFL combine, before he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and before he鈥檇 ever heard of smartARM, there was just a set of tools and a workbench in the garage. Griffin鈥檚 father also brought vision into the garage. In his mind, he saw a prosthetic his son could use for training. But instead of taking out a $40,000 loan to buy it, he鈥檇 build it.

鈥淲ho can afford that kind of money?鈥� Griffin says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always thought it鈥檚 wrong that people who really need prosthetics often don鈥檛 have access to them.鈥�

Through middle school and high school, Griffin would use 鈥渄ad鈥檚 contraption鈥� as he calls it to lift weights. Shaquill was his dedicated spotter. Whenever the contraption broke, dad would buy a replacement part and fix it, or he鈥檇 build a new one. When Griffin arrived at 麻豆映画传媒 to prepare for his freshman season, the Knights training staff surprised him with a commercial-grade prosthetic.

He returned the favor by surprising them, too.

鈥淭hey鈥檇 never seen someone doing pullups and pushups the way I did them. They didn鈥檛 expect me to increase my bench press to 385 pounds with the prosthetic either. Looking back, I was changing the way people think about disabilities.鈥�

Griffin was growing off the field, too, earning a , which prepared him to share his powerful story with large audiences. He studied business books so he could be a discerning investor, and he immersed himself in technology to learn how it works and how it can be improved. Whenever a prosthetic company came along to pitch Griffin about a partnership, he knew exactly what to ask.

“What kind of advanced tech do you use? How do you plan to scale it?” And most important: “What will it cost the person who needs it?”

鈥淏eing a D-1 football player gave me access to resources that others don鈥檛 typically have,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hose resources shouldn鈥檛 be exclusive. With smartARM I have an opportunity to bring them to a space that鈥檚 been lacking forever.鈥�

Griffin now has something more tangible to share with families who frequently contact him simply for an encouraging word.

鈥淧arents of disabled children have approached me since I was a teenager, asking if their child would ever make friends, if they鈥檇 be able to play sports, if they鈥檇 find someone to marry,” he says. “Honestly, I didn鈥檛 know what to say because I was going through it myself. I鈥檇 hear comments like, 鈥極h, he鈥檚 pretty good for being handicapped.鈥� I thought all of that would change when I made it to the NFL, but it didn鈥檛. Eventually, I realized I was trying to erase something that could actually make me a blessing to others.鈥�

Proving others wrong once motivated Griffin. Today, perspective drives him. He knows how the workbench in the garage morphed into his platform. He鈥檚 spreading awareness, assembling like-minded investors, and participating in technology advancements. With his help, the cost of a smartARM is almost one-fourth the cost of most bionic prosthetics 鈥� and he鈥檚 hopeful that insurance plans will soon cover the costs.

鈥淭his is just the start,鈥� Griffin says. 鈥淢y goal is for more people to commit resources to help others the way smartARM is doing. Let鈥檚 provide access so we can see the capabilities of those who have been marginalized. You鈥檒l be surprised what they can do. That鈥檚 my message and it鈥檚 now my purpose.鈥�

Keep reading to discover all the ways to join the fun, connect with fellow Knights and celebrate 麻豆映画传媒 spirit all week long.

Student and Community Events

Note: Comedy Knight and Concert Knight are ticketed events with free admission for current students with a valid 麻豆映画传媒 ID. Tickets for the public may be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Oct. 13 鈥� Knights Got Talent | Memory Mall | 7-9 p.m.
Bring a blanket or chair to Memory Mall and support your fellow Knights as they showcase their special talents. This event is free for both the community and 麻豆映画传媒 students.

Oct. 14 鈥� Movie Knight: Superman | 麻豆映画传媒 Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom | 7-10 p.m.
Catch an epic鈥痵howing of Superman, plus a short film competition and concessions.

Oct. 15 鈥� Comedy Knight:鈥�Karlous Miller鈥瘄 Addition Financial Arena | Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

Enjoy a night of laughs with comedian Karlous Miller, known for the 85 South Show and Wild N鈥� Out. Admission is free for all 麻豆映画传媒 students. Non-麻豆映画传媒 students can purchase $25 tickets on Ticketmaster.

Oct. 14 鈥� Foam Splash | Communication and Media Building Plaza, 麻豆映画传媒 Downtown | 12-2 p.m.
Dive into the biggest foam party of the semester. Splash into a giant foam pit and bubbly pool, enjoy tacos and ice cream, play water games and more. The first 200 attendees will get free rubber ducks and exclusive Foam Splash T-shirts.

Oct. 16 鈥� Concert Knight: JT and SoFaygo | Addition Financial Arena | Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

Experience a high-energy Concert Knight featuring Miami rapper and special guest SoFaygo, a rapper from Michigan. Admission is free for all 麻豆映画传媒 students. Non-麻豆映画传媒 students can purchase $25 tickets on Ticketmaster.

Oct. 17 鈥� Spirit Splash | 麻豆映画传媒 Reflecting Pond | 12-2 p.m.
The nation鈥檚 biggest homecoming tradition is back. Students will be able to run into the Reflecting Pond and attempt to catch the famous homecoming duck. There will be special guest speakers, as well as performances from the cheer team, Knightmoves, and Marching Knights. The event is free and open to both 麻豆映画传媒 students and the community.

Oct. 17 鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 Volleyball vs. University of Arizona | The Venue at 麻豆映画传媒 | Match begins at 6 p.m.
The 麻豆映画传媒 women鈥檚 volleyball team welcomes Big 12 opponent Arizona. For more information, visit鈥�.

Oct. 17 鈥� Ignite the Knight | Memory Mall | Event starts at 6 p.m., fireworks start at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting聽

Bring your own towel, blanket, or chair to sit on and enjoy live music, carnival games, food, beverages, and special appearances. Then cap off the evening with a one-of-a-kind fireworks display.

Oct. 18 鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 Football vs. West Virginia | Acrisure Bounce House | Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Cheer on the Knights as they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers during the homecoming game. Purchase game tickets on Ticketmaster or through the 麻豆映画传媒 Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000. For more information, check out the .

Alumni Events

Oct. 16 鈥� Shining Knights Alumni Awards Reception | Pegasus Ballroom, 麻豆映画传媒 Student Union | 6-9 p.m.
The Shining Knights Alumni Awards honor 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 outstanding alumni and community leaders who have significantly contributed to the university and the community. The 麻豆映画传媒 Alumni family is honored to recognize nine honorees at this year’s reception. 鈥痑nd include a pre-reception with heavy hors d鈥檕euvres, cocktails and dinner.

Oct. 17 鈥� Ignite the Knight | Memory Mall | 6-8:30 p.m.
Join Knight Nation for a family-friendly 麻豆映画传媒 festival celebrating the eve of the big football game. Enjoy live music, food, beverages, carnival games and special appearances, then cap off the evening with a one-of-a-kind fireworks spectacular. .

Bonus: by bringing sealed, individually packaged Halloween candy, small toys or crafts. These items will be collected at Ignite the Knight.

Oct. 18 鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 Alumni Tailgate | 麻豆映画传媒 FAIRWINDS Alumni Center | Three hours before kickoff
Head to the 麻豆映画传媒鈥疐AIRWINDS Alumni Center three hours before the Knights charge the field to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Admission to this family-friendly zone is complimentary for all 麻豆映画传媒 alumni and guests.

Oct. 18 鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 Black Alumni Community Family Reunion and Tailgate鈥�| 麻豆映画传媒 FAIRWINDS Alumni Center | Three hours before kickoff
Head to the ultimate tailgating experience, hosted by the 麻豆映画传媒 Black Alumni Community, three hours before the Knights take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Enjoy a DJ, giant yard games, guest appearances and more. while they last. This event is open to all alumni and guests.

Oct. 18 鈥� 聽麻豆映画传媒 Regional Community Watch Parties | Locations vary | Time varies聽Not able to come to campus? Regional Knights communities will host local watch parties before the 麻豆映画传媒 vs. West Virginia game 鈥� and everyone is invited.鈥�.

Oct. 19 鈥� Trick or Treat on Greek Street鈥�| Greek Park Drive | 2-5 p.m.
The 麻豆映画传媒 Greek Community is hosting its annual Trick or Treat on Greek Street. This family-friendly event brings Halloween fun to the Central Florida community 鈥� and everyone鈥檚 invited.

in your group. All registered Greek alumni will be entered for a chance to win.