Baylor Football

Game Thread: Bears Look to Bounce Back against UCF in Orlando

Baylor football faces off against UCF.
By SicEm365 Staff
October 29, 2026
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548 Comments
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SICEM365 GAME THREAD

Baylor at UCF

Joe Klanderman’s Interim Debut • Space Game
Friday, October 30, 2026 • 6:30 p.m. CT • ESPN
Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, FL
Records Baylor 4-3 (2-2 Big 12) | UCF 4-3 (2-2 Big 12)
Coaches Joe Klanderman (interim) vs. Scott Frost
Kickoff 6:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. ET
TV ESPN — Mike Monaco, Jordan Rodgers, Dana Boyle
Radio John Morris, Geff Gandy, Bryson Jackson • KRZI 1660 AM / 92.3 FM
Stream ESPN / ESPN app • BaylorBears.com radio
Series Baylor leads 2-1
Last meeting Baylor 30, UCF 3 (Waco, Nov. 1, 2025)
Last in Orlando Baylor 36, UCF 35 (2023 comeback from 35-7)
Last game Kansas 25, Baylor 24 (Oct. 24)
Line UCF -1.5 • O/U 48.5 • as of Oct. 29

Why This Game Matters

  • Joe Klanderman’s first game as interim head coach after Dave Aranda was fired Sunday following the Kansas loss
  • UCF’s annual Space Game, coming off a 39-31 double-OT upset of then-No. 2 BYU
  • Both teams are 4-3, 2-2 in the Big 12. Critical for bowl positioning and momentum
  • Baylor has won the last two meetings (36-35 in Orlando in 2023, 30-3 in Waco in 2025)
  • Klanderman will continue calling the defense, which has been the team’s strength

Series History

  • Baylor leads 2-1 all-time
  • 2014 Fiesta Bowl: UCF 52, Baylor 42
  • 2023 in Orlando: Baylor 36, UCF 35 (rallied from 35-7)
  • 2025 in Waco: Baylor 30, UCF 3
  • UCF this year: W vs. Bethune-Cookman, L at Pitt, W vs. Georgia State, W vs. TCU, L at Houston, L at Oklahoma State, bye, W 39-31 (2OT) vs. No. 2 BYU

Keys for Baylor

  1. Respond to the change. Players have talked about Klanderman’s energy. First game without Aranda has to show it on the field.
  2. Contain Keyone Jenkins. He accounted for four touchdowns (293 pass yards, 3 TD; 35 rush yards, 1 TD) against BYU.
  3. Find any run game. The ground game has been the clear weakness. UCF is not an elite defensive team, but run defense is their strength.
  4. Keep the defense rolling. Klanderman stays on the headset. The unit has been near the top of the Big 12 in sacks, TFLs, and turnovers.
  5. Avoid the letdown on the other side. UCF just beat a top-2 team at home. Bounce House will be loud for the Space Game.

Players to Watch

Baylor: QB DJ Lagway • RB Dawson Pendergrass • WR Gavin Freeman, Jayden McGowan • LB Travion Barnes • TE Matthew Klopfenstein • Interim HC / DC Joe Klanderman

UCF: QB Keyone Jenkins • RB Duke Watson • WR Josh Derry, Tyren Hornes • HC Scott Frost • Space Game uniforms (Mercury/Gemini/Apollo theme)

SicEm365 UCF week reading

SICEM365
548 Comments
Tags
Game Thread Baylor-UCF Baylor at UCF Football Baylor Central Florida 2026
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Discussion from...

Game Thread: Bears Look to Bounce Back against UCF in Orlando

42,155 Views | 548 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by boognish_bear
PlanoTXBear
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8:59p, 10/30/26
addition by subtraction. it's been so clear for so long...so many l's that didn't have to happen.
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JTM
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8:59p, 10/30/26
Klandyman for HC
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historian
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9:00p, 10/30/26
Lagway to Freeman!!!
Touchdown!!
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Jack Bauer
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9:00p, 10/30/26
We have completely demoralized a team on their home turf that just beat #2 BYU. Sheesh.
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Realitybites
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9:00p, 10/30/26
Boom.

34-6.

Total domination by Klanderman's Bears.
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canoso
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In reply to Realitybites • 9:00p, 10/30/26
Realitybites said:
Boom.

34-6.

Total domination by Klanderman's Bears.

He kicked some butt for sure.
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Timbear
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9:01p, 10/30/26
THIS IS INSANITY !!!!!

If anybody ever thanks Dave again for Anything….
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BusyTarpDuster2017
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9:01p, 10/30/26
Is this really the same team we saw vs TCU and Kansas??
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Bear in AL
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9:01p, 10/30/26
Looking like Arizona State game 2.0
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dycbaylor02
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9:01p, 10/30/26
Khan deserves critique one game at a time and this is a fing signature game for him. The energy in this game is so diff.
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BearFan33
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9:01p, 10/30/26
What a debut by Klanderman. Wow
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historian
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In reply to Timbear • 9:02p, 10/30/26
Well, he did hire Klanderman!
Just saying
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Delmar 2.0
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 9:02p, 10/30/26
dycbaylor02 said:
GTownBear15 said:
Was Aranda this much of a drag net on the program?

ABSOFINGLUTELY .please do not curse this game raising his name

Only if you erase the 55-19 beatdown Dave's Bears put on ASU
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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JudgeBear1845
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9:03p, 10/30/26
The Klandyman can
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PaperBear89
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9:03p, 10/30/26
Need to get the lawyers to work on figuring out how to get 6 that 6th season of eligibility.
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Timbear
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9:03p, 10/30/26
Now , is everyone understanding the Damage Dave did to the Baylor football program?
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bearmission8
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9:03p, 10/30/26
Jolt of energy ? Theres is a freakin hurricane at the bounce house tonight
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BearFan33
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9:04p, 10/30/26
Kandy said he had a 30 min talk with DJ. Whatever he said worked
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whitetrash
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9:05p, 10/30/26
Well that sucked.
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BearlyBeloved
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9:05p, 10/30/26
First true failed tackle by our D
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boognish_bear
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9:06p, 10/30/26
Let's keep the no TD streak intact
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whitetrash
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:07p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
First true failed tackle by our D

Similar to last year against SMU where 2 DBs went up for an interception, collided and tipped the ball to the SMU receiver for an 80yd TD on the 1st play of the game.
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Big12Fan2024
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9:07p, 10/30/26
Way to stay with it TURNER!!!!!
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boognish_bear
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9:07p, 10/30/26
This...defense...is...nasty
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historian
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9:08p, 10/30/26
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BearlyBeloved
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9:08p, 10/30/26
Great blitz!
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Aliceinbubbleland
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9:08p, 10/30/26
Fake FG?
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historian
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9:08p, 10/30/26
Sacked!!!
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Dia del DougO
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9:09p, 10/30/26
Wow, haven't seen the team show this much fire in a good while.

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boognish_bear
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9:09p, 10/30/26
It's unbelievable how frequently we get into the backfield on defense each week. Feels like it almost never happened last year.
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BearFan33
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9:09p, 10/30/26
Can we do ball control and use clock?
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Realitybites
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9:09p, 10/30/26
Would the defensive genius have even realized that he should blitz the new QB?
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Timbear
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In reply to BearFan33 • 9:10p, 10/30/26
BearFan33 said:
Can we do ball control and use clock?


SCORE MORE!
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BUGWBBear
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In reply to Realitybites • 9:11p, 10/30/26
Realitybites said:
Would the defensive genius have even realized that he should blitz the new QB?


Naw. He'd insist on trying to tell him a Bernstein Bears tale
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boognish_bear
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9:12p, 10/30/26
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