Five Big 12 teams that UCF can already pick a fight with

UCF has left USF behind, so who is the next rival?

UCF's quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) gets taken down by UC's defense during the UC vs. UCF game at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, November 4, 2023. UCF leads the game at halftime with a score of 14-10.
UCF's quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) gets taken down by UC's defense during the UC vs. UCF game at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, November 4, 2023. UCF leads the game at halftime with a score of 14-10. | Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY
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UCF has unfortunately, or fortunately, if you think about it, lost its true rivalry with USF. Since the Knights left the Bulls behind in the American Athletic Conference in 2023, the two teams meet on the occasion, but UCF is on the hunt for a new rival in their shiny new conference.

Of course, there are two teams that moved to the Big 12 with UCF from the AAC that would be great candidates for the job, but there have to be some long-existing members that UCF would love to have a rivalry with.

It is a little tough to look at long-standing records because the Knights still have yet to play a few teams in the Big 12, including all four newcomers that they will play this season. They played a lot of the veteran teams for the first or second time in 2023.

While UCF and USF will always be a "rival" of some kind, the Knights need someone to pick a fight within the Big 12. Here are five candidates for that job.