ORLANDO — It coincided with the program’s first undefeated football season, but UCF‘s Citronaut rebranding and annual Space Game has evolved into one of college football’s most successful and anticipated modern traditions.
UCF rolled out its 1960s astronaut-themed apparel on Sept. 29, ahead of its 10th Space Game mission. It pays homage to NASA’s beginnings and three of its foundational space programs: Project Mercury, Project Gemini and the Apollo Program.
So why does UCF identify as “Space U” and adopt an alternate identity and colors once every fall? Here’s a refresher on the Space Game:
UCF will celebrate its 10th Space Game on Oct. 30 against Baylor. It’s the second straight season the Knights have played on a Friday night with a nationally televised audience. ESPN will broadcast this Big 12 matchup.
Since 2017, UCF has commemorated its roots as a school — then known as Florida Technological University — founded with the goal of providing personnel for the United States space program at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to university statistics, 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni.
UCF offers more than 35 space-related degrees, including aerospace medicine and an online space MBA. UCF faculty and students have worked on 591 NASA projects to the 1990s.
The Acrisure Bounce House‘s 50-yard line aligns on the exact latitude as Launch Complex 39A, NASA’s most historic launchpad, 31 miles east. Rocket launches are frequently visible from the stands and press box inside the stadium.
According to Pegasus, the university’s magazine, the Citronaut graced the cover of Florida Technological University’s 1968-69 student handbook. It had the head of an astronaut, including a space helmet, and the body of an orange.
Norman Van Meter, the brother-in-law of then-UCF President Charles Millican, illustrated the mascot in an attempt to combine Central Florida’s major themes of the period: the growing space program and the citrus industry. Both remain integral to the region to this day.
The Citronaut, however, was met with initial disapproval from FTU students. Within one year, they petitioned student government to establish an official mascot, eventually choosing “the Knights of Pegasus” in 1970.
UCF rebranded as the Golden Knights in 1993, and the moniker was shortened to Knights in 2007.
Nowadays, the Citronaut enjoys a large cult following and is a wildly popular secondary brand for the university’s athletic teams.
UCF won each of its first eight Space Games by an average margin of 30.7 points per contest. That includes a 45-3 rout of then-No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023 and a 56-12 demolition of Arizona the following season that snapped a five-game losing streak.
However, Houston, this weekend’s upcoming opponent, handed the Knights their first loss last November. Kentrell Webb intercepted Davi Belfort in the end zone with 11 seconds left in regulation to seal a 30-27 victory for the visiting Cougars.
- Oct. 14, 2017 — UCF 63, East Carolina 21
- Nov. 1, 2018 — UCF 52, Temple 40
Nov. 2, 2019 — UCF 44, Houston 29
Oct. 24, 2020 — UCF 51, Tulane 34
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.Oct. 22, 2021 — UCF 24, Memphis 7
Oct. 13, 2022 — UCF 70, Temple 13
Nov. 11, 2023 — UCF 45, Oklahoma State 3
Nov. 2, 2024 — UCF 56, Arizona 12
Nov. 7, 2025 — Houston 30, UCF 27
Oct. 14, 2017 — UCF 63, East Carolina 21
Nov. 2, 2019 — UCF 44, Houston 29
Oct. 24, 2020 — UCF 51, Tulane 34
Oct. 22, 2021 — UCF 24, Memphis 7
Oct. 13, 2022 — UCF 70, Temple 13
Nov. 11, 2023 — UCF 45, Oklahoma State 3
Nov. 2, 2024 — UCF 56, Arizona 12
Nov. 7, 2025 — Houston 30, UCF 27
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What is UCF Space Game? Annual tradition reaches 10th year with new uniforms
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