Scott Frost Receives C+ Grade for UCF's 5-7 Season After Promising Start
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Scott Frost’s return to Orlando generated a lot of excitement at the “Bounce House.”
Frost achieved a record of 19-7 in his first two years as head coach of UCF in 2016 and 2017. This included an undefeated season in 2017, during which the team went 13-0 and claimed a national championship, despite not being selected for the College Football Playoff.
After that successful season, Frost left UCF to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. However, his tenure there was challenging; he finished with a 16-31 record over five seasons before being fired.
After stepping away for two seasons, he returned as the head coach of UCF. In his first year back, he led the team to a 5-7 record, which was an improvement over the previous year’s 4-8 season. For his performance, he received a grade of “C+” from John Talty of CBS Sports.
“In the return of Scott Frost, the first-year coach was able to improve UCF’s record by one win but still missed a bowl appearance,” Talty wrote. “Frost got off to a hot start, winning his first three games, but finished with the thud of losing four of his last five. UCF won only two of its nine Big 12 conference games, highlighting the steep climb to come for Frost to return the program to its 2017 high of a perfect 13-0 record.”
Frost’s return to Orlando initially sparked hope, especially after a fast 3-0 start that briefly reignited memories of UCF’s magical 2017 season. However, that momentum faded as the Knights stumbled down the stretch, losing four of their final five games and missing out on bowl eligibility once again.
While the improvement from 4-8 to 5-7 shows incremental progress, the results also highlighted how difficult the Big 12 transition has been for UCF. Winning just two conference games underscored the talent gap and depth issues Frost must address if the program is going to compete consistently.
Looking ahead to 2026, Frost enters a critical phase of his second stint. Recruiting, roster development and adapting to the weekly grind of Big 12 football will determine whether UCF can realistically climb back toward national relevance, or if the 13-0 season remains a distant benchmark rather than an attainable goal.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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