Scott Frost is Making Nebraska Money in Second Stint With UCF

That’s strong money for a program that’s only been in the Big 12 for two seasons. But it’s also a bet on familiarity. Frost’s first run at UCF was brief but iconic—he took over a winless team in 2016 and had the Knights claiming a national title just two years later. Now, seven years removed from his departure and two years out of coaching after a failed stint at Nebraska, Frost gets a second shot with a team that looks much different than the one he left behind.

Interestingly, his new deal puts him almost right back where he finished at Nebraska. Frost earned $5 million annually to start in Lincoln before restructuring to $4 million in his final season.

This fall, he’ll make $3.9 million, which gives you an idea of where UCF sees itself in the college football food chain: right on the edge of the big time.

The Knights open 2025 with three straight home games—Jacksonville State, NC A&T, and North Carolina—before kicking off Big 12 play at Kansas State.

UCF finished 5–7 last year and has yet to prove it can consistently compete in a deeper conference like the Big 12. Frost’s return brings excitement and name value, but it also comes with expectations that feel much heavier than his first go-round.