UCF AD: Big football game guarantees part of doing business now

When Terry Mohajir arrived at UCF as the school’s new athletics director in 2021, he inherited an incomplete football schedule with crucial holes to fill over the next few seasons. The Knights had eight nonconference open dates over the next five seasons, including one in the upcoming campaign.

“When I arrived in February of 2021, we still needed one game for that fall,” Mohajir recently told the Sentinel.

Since then, Mohajir has worked tirelessly to upgrade the Knights’ future schedule. The task became more demanding in 2023 when the Knights transitioned from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12.

UCF went from an eight-game conference schedule under the AAC to nine games in the Big 12.

Mohajir’s scheduling philosophy changed to include one Power Four opponent (a requirement of the Big 12), one Group of Five opponent, and a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.

This season, UCF will face New Hampshire (FCS), Sam Houston (G5) and Florida (P4).

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In 2025, the schedule features Jacksonville State (G5), North Carolina (P4) and North Carolina A&T. In 2026, it’s Pittsburgh (P4), UMass (G5) and Bethune-Cookman (FCS). In 2027, it’s North Carolina (P4), Louisiana (G5) and UT Martin. In 2028, it’s Maine (FCS), Northwestern (P4) and FAU (G5).

But securing those games has been challenging and has come at a cost.

According to the game contracts obtained by the Sentinel through Freedom of Information Act requests, the total financial guarantee for 10 of those future nonconference opponents totals nearly $8 million.

Four games — Jacksonville State ($1 million), UMass ($1.2 million), Louisiana ($1.3 million) and James Madison ($1.3 million in 2029) — each required a guarantee of over $1 million.

“Guarantees are just the business you must do now,” said Mohajir. “At my previous school [Arkansas State], I was known as the guy who got the most money [from guarantee contracts]. I got $1.8 million, $1.7 million, so I’ve been on the other side of these things.”

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Guarantee contracts help schools at the Group of Five and FCS levels build their athletic budgets. In some cases, a hefty guarantee can be crucial to the future of a school’s athletic department.

UCF has been involved in both sides of guarantee games, with the Knights receiving $1.5 million to face Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2016.

However, as the football program rose in national stature starting in 2017, the Knights found themselves needing to spend money to secure home games.

UCF spent $1 million to get UConn as a nonconference opponent in 2021 and $900,000 to get Kent State for its opener in 2023.

“It’s tough to get an FBC Group of Five [school] for under a million dollars,” said Mohajir, who also pointed out some of those payouts are declining.

The Knights are spending $350,000 for this season’s opener against New Hampshire on Aug. 29 and $800,000 for their matchup with Sam Houston on Sept. 7.

UCF’s third nonconference game this upcoming season is at Florida on Oct. 5.

Unlike his predecessor, Mohajir was willing to agree to 2-for-1 scheduling deals, like the one with the Gators. This deal has the Knights traveling to Gainesville twice (2024 and 2033) and hosting UF in 2030.

This year’s guarantee is $800,000 while future meetings are $250,000 in 2030 and $200,000 in 2033.

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UCF’s schedule is stocked through 2028, with the Knights needing to fill out some spots in 2029 (1), 2030 (2) and 2031 (2).

For Mohajir, it’s all about securing home games, which are likely money-makers for the department.

Meanwhile, USF is one opponent that continues to draw interest, at least from some in the fanbase.

While he isn’t opposed to renewing the rivalry against South Florida, Mohajir notes that it’s been difficult because the Bulls’ schedule is full until 2031.

“They’re not moving anything for us, so we’re not going to move anything for them,” said Mohajir. “It’s just a matter of when they’re open. When I got here, they were booked through 2030.”

But Mohajir cautions that with the Big 12’s uneven scheduling — rotating the number of home games each season — it’s more advantageous for UCF to schedule home games rather than a home-and-away series, particularly regarding Group of Five schools.

“I need home games,” said Mohajir. “Would they be amenable to not doing a home-and-home? Because right now, a home-and-home with a Group of Five is not advantageous for us. That puts us in a bad financial situation.”

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com