The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I (FBS for football) as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

UCF sponsors 16 varsity sports: 6 for men (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, and tennis; the minimum number of men's sports required for a Division I school) and 10 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and volleyball).

In the Division II era, under Torchy Clark, UCF found great success including a DII Final Four appearance.

[15] At the time, UCF was one of nine unbeaten teams, and one of only four schools to be ranked in the BCS standings and the AP men's basketball poll.

In 2019, the Knights defeated the number 8 ranked Houston Cougars and ended the nations longest home winning streak at 33.

To conclude the 1979–80 season, the team won the Division-II Florida State Championship, before falling in their first game of the national tournament.

In 2009, UCF's women's basketball team shocked the C-USA by going 11–5 in conference play after going 2–11 in non-conference games and 10–20 the previous year, and swept through the 2009 Conference USA women's basketball tournament, dominating Southern Miss in overtime to win the championship game, 65–54, and earn its third Division I tournament appearance.

This earned them a number 24 overall final season ranking in the AP and coaches poll, as well as an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed.

In honor of his long-term success with the Knights, on February 3, 2001, UCF opened and dedicated Jay Bergman Field, which has since been renamed to John Euliano Park.

Since then, the Knights have played in six bowl games, won six conference championships, produced 2 All-Americans, and two first-round draft picks.

It is the alma mater for NFL stars Brandon Marshall, Daunte Culpepper, Asante Samuel, Leger Douzable, and Bruce Miller among others.

In 1996, the program made its final ascension into Division I-A, now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The 2005 team won the school's first division championship, and earned their first trip to a bowl game, in the Knights first season in C-USA.

UCF finished the 2013 campaign by earning the program's first top-ten ranking, and with quarterback Blake Bortles being selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2014 NFL draft.

[33] Numerous former Knight golfers have represented the UCF on the PGA and LPGA Tours, including Robert Damron and Cliff Kresge.

He was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team which qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

It was founded in 2002, and the team officially started competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference in that same year under head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie.

[49] UCF was not selected to play in the College Football Playoff in 2017; all major selectors except for Colley Matrix chose Alabama as the 2017 national champion.

[50] The University of Central Florida, through the Recreation and Wellness Center and the student government, also fields a number of club sports of varying degrees of competitiveness, though most compete only with other teams from the southeastern part of the country.

The club sports include bass fishing, badminton, bowling, running, cycling, fencing, golf, equestrian, esports, ice hockey, judo, jiu-jitsu, kiteboarding, lacrosse, paintball, racquetball, rugby, sailing, swimming, surfing, table tennis, taekwondo, team handball, tennis, triathlon, ultimate frisbee, men's volleyball, water polo, water skiing, wheelchair basketball, and wrestling.

Former head coach Sean Weaver led the Knights to eight consecutive national tournament appearances, and placed 3rd in the 2007–08 and 2010–11 seasons.

UCF won the national championship by defeating Lindenwood in the final 27–25, with team captain Gerhard Veit also scoring two tries.

UCF rugby won the first tournament in Estero in the Fall 2012 Florida Sevens Championship with a 4–0 record, including a 24–5 win over FSU in the final.

They are known for their high energy performances, unique and contemporary drill designs, and musical selections ranging from jazz, to pop, to classical.

The university's coordinated dance team, KnightMoves, is considered to be one of the nation's top college programs, and features 12-18 girls each year.

[66] The team performs year round at school and athletic events, such as Spirit Splash, pep rally's, and football and basketball games.

Another popular cheer at games occurs during the national anthem when students loudly exclaim "Knight" during the line, "Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

[citation needed] Since 2000, the UCF has invested significant capital and effort in the construction, expansion and improvements of its major sports programs and their facilities.

[13] In 2011, the university renovated the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium, increasing capacity to over 2,000 and adding amenities such as clubhouses and restrooms.

As a competitor in college athletics, UCF has many notable student athletes, coaches and staff members, such as NFL players Blake Bortles, A. J. Bouye, Daunte Culpepper, Gabe Davis, Richie Grant, Brandon Marshall, Latavius Murray, Matt Prater, Josh Sitton, Asante Samuel, and twin brothers Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin; NBA players Taylor Hendricks and Tacko Fall; NASCAR driver Aric Almirola; and soccer stars Michelle Akers and Sean Johnson.