Overview

• Kickoff is 7 p.m. ET at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, with streaming on ESPN+.
• Jacksonville State will start Rutgers transfer Gavin Wimsatt at quarterback in Charles Kelly’s debut.
• Both programs retooled heavily in the offseason, with UCF adding nearly 70 newcomers and JSU bringing in 51.
• UCF plans to start three transfer receivers—Marcus Burke, Duane Thomas Jr. and DJ Black—with Myles Montgomery sharing backfield duties with Jaden Nixon.
• Analyst Phil Steele notes JSU returns only 9% of last season’s offensive production, and top receiver Michael Pettway’s availability is uncertain, while UCF carries long season‑opener and Thursday‑night winning streaks.