University of Central Florida Knights 2026 Space Game Hoodie

Few universities can say they were founded for the space race. The University of Central Florida was founded in Orlando in 1963 as Florida Technological University, created to train engineers and scientists for the space program growing at Cape Canaveral. Six decades later the school calls itself “Space U,” and once a year the football team puts that history on the field. The University of Central Florida Knights 2026 Space Game Hoodie is made for this year’s edition.

The Citronaut mascot artwork beside front and back views of the white hoodie.

Mission X: The 10th Space Game

On Friday, October 30, 2026, UCF hosts Baylor at the Acrisure Bounce House at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN for the 10th annual Space Game, under the theme “Mission X: Origin Story.” The Knights will wear all-white uniforms inspired by the spacesuits of NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, with a red stripe on the helmet, a chrome gold facemask and pants striped like Apollo-era rockets. And for one night the team goes back to its first nickname, the Citronauts.

The Citronaut is UCF’s original unofficial mascot: the head of an astronaut in a space helmet on the body of an orange, a mix of Florida citrus and the space coast. The Knights eventually took over as the school’s identity, but fans never forgot the Citronaut, and it now appears on the hip of this year’s Space Game uniforms and on the chest of this hoodie.

Design Details

• Front: a small black-and-white Citronaut mascot on the left chest.
• Back: “SPACE U” in large blue and black letters, with “University of Central Florida” beneath.
• Colour: clean white body, matching the all-white Space Game uniforms.
• Build: a pullover with an adjustable drawcord hood, front pouch pocket, rib-knit cuffs and hem, and taped seams at the neck and shoulders.
• Fabric: light polyester that feels soft against the skin.
• Print: sublimated straight into the fabric for graphics that stay put.

Front view: white pullover with the Citronaut on the chest.

Size Guide

Hand-measured with the hoodie laid flat (chest taken just under the arms), so allow 1–3 cm either way.

Back view: “SPACE U” and “University of Central Florida.”

Game Night and After

A Friday night kickoff in late October in Orlando is warm early and cool by the fourth quarter, so a lightweight hoodie is the right layer for the Bounce House. After the game it works for class, the commute or a launch-viewing trip to the coast. It also makes a great gift for a UCF alum who works in aerospace, a student in engineering, or a parent who drops their kid off at the school every August.

To keep the white crisp, wash it cold with whites, inside out, then air-dry; iron from the inside on low if you need to.

Find more college gear under other leagues and in our hoodies and sweatshirts section.

Questions Fans Ask

When is the 2026 Space Game?

Friday, October 30, 2026, UCF against Baylor at the Acrisure Bounce House, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

What is the Citronaut?

UCF’s original unofficial mascot, an astronaut’s head on an orange’s body, from the school’s years as Florida Technological University.

Why is UCF called “Space U”?

The school was founded in 1963 to support the space program at Cape Canaveral, and it remains a major source of engineers for the space industry.

Will the white stay clean?

Yes, if you wash it cold with whites and skip the dryer; the print is part of the fabric and holds its colour.