The Kansas Jayhawks are set to hit the road for their Big 12 opener of the 2025–26 season. Kansas enters the game with a 10-3 record and will face a UCF team that has won 11 of its first 12 games this season.
Kansas will wait to see if star freshman Darryn Peterson can play in this game. Peterson has appeared in just four games this season for the Jayhawks. The last time Kansas took the floor was December 22, when it dominated Davidson at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks’ three losses this season came against Duke, North Carolina, and UConn. Kansas will play its first home conference game on Tuesday when it hosts the TCU Horned Frogs.
UCF has won ten straight games since its lone loss of the season, which came against Vanderbilt. The Commodores are one of the remaining undefeated teams in the country. The Knights’ most recent win came on December 23 at home against Florida Atlantic.
The Knights will head back on the road following this game for another Big 12 matchup, traveling to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State. UCF’s next home game is scheduled for January 11 against Cincinnati.
Kansas vs. UCF: When and Where
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Location: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, FL
Kansas vs. UCF: Where to Watch or Stream
TV: Peacock
Streaming: FuboTV
Kansas vs. UCF Betting Odds
Spread: Kansas Jayhawks -5.5, UCF Knights +6.5
Moneyline: Kansas Jayhawks -250, UCF Knights +220
Total: 153.5
Kansas vs. UCF Series History
All-Time Series: Kansas leads UCF 3-1
Last Meeting: Kansas defeated UCF 98-94 on March 12, 2025
Projected Starting Lineups
Kansas Jayhawks
- #40 Flory Bidunga: 14.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG
- #3 Tre White: 14.5 PPG
- #14 Melvin Council Jr.: 12.9 PPG
- #15 Bryson Tiller: 9.0 PPG
- #7 Kohl Rosario: 5.5 PPG
Key Note
- Darryn Peterson (#22) is the team’s leading scorer at 19.2 PPG but is questionable with an injury.
UCF Knights
- #99 Jordan Burks: 13.8 PPG
- #2 Riley Kugel: 13.7 PPG
- #1 Tehemus Fulks: 13.3 PPG
- #4 Jamichael Stillwell: 12.6 PPG
- #7 John Bol: 6.5 PPG
Game Outlook
This should be a strong early Big 12 test for both teams. Kansas will need a complete 40-minute effort if it wants to avoid starting conference play 0-1. UCF has proven it is capable of beating high-level opponents, especially at home in Orlando.
Big 12 play has arrived, and this matchup is one of several high-quality games set to shape the conference race over the next two months. Buckle up and enjoy the hoops.