ORLANDO, Fla. — Perhaps the biggest change in the history of UCF football will begin Saturday, when the Knights sports programs officially become a member of the Big 12 Conference.

With just over 60 days before UCF's first year in the Big 12, the Knights have been working to get the right players on the field.

For UCF coach Gus Malzahn, the move has been a long time coming.

"We've been building up, trying to get our roster ready," Malzahn said. "...I feel we do anytime you move up a level. You have to be deep. I feel we are."

Getting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee ready and putting the right pieces around him are key. He has been building off last season.

“John Rhys has taken his game to the next level," Malzahn said. "He's done a super job. We added a couple pieces with the portal. We feel good about our roster."

The Knights will face a conference schedule full of teams that they mostly have never played. It also will mean more travel than in previous years, which will test the team.

One of those road games will come against powerhouse Oklahoma, with former UCF quarterback Dilllon Gabriel now behind center for the Sooners. The Knights' game against Boise State is also on the road.

"We're the new kid on the block," Malzahn said. "We have five road games of the nine (in the Big 12 Conference). We have six real road games. I'll put that up against any schedule in the country."

It's all part of the plan for Malzahn as he heads into his third season as UCF's coach and continues to build the program's championship culture.

"I think — more than anything — building your program, the culture around the program, a lot of moving parts...we think we're in a good spot," he said. "This is a championship program. We're going to continue to build upon that."