UCF Space Game week is here. How it became football tradition with cool uniforms

The UCF Knights have transformed the Space Game into a beloved football tradition, donning themed uniforms and aiming to reignite their extraterrestrial magic this October. The 10th edition of the Space Game, featuring UCF against Baylor, will kick off on Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Acrisure Bounce House with ESPN broadcasting the event. Coach Scott Frost expressed his enthusiasm for the tradition, emphasizing the unique aspects of UCF's history and what the university stands for.

The Space Game traces its origins back to 2017 when UCF was still known as Florida Technological University, a school founded with the purpose of providing personnel for the U.S. space program at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Approximately 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni, and the university offers over 35 space-related degrees, including aerospace medicine and an online space MBA. Faculty and students have contributed to 591 NASA projects.

The Acrisure Bounce House's 50-yard line is aligned with the exact latitude of Launch Complex 39A, a historic launchpad in Florida. The Citronaut, the university's mascot, originally featured a head resembling an astronaut and the body of an orange. Despite initial disapproval from FTU students, the Citronaut eventually became a popular secondary brand for the university's athletic teams.

Historically, UCF has won the Space Game in its first eight appearances by an average margin of 30.7 points per contest. However, Houston secured the Knights' first loss in the Space Game last November.