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

40,294 Views | 548 Replies | Last: 12 hrs ago by boognish_bear
Dia del DougO
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9:12p, 10/30/26
Lucky break with the dropped potential pick.
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BearFan33
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In reply to Timbear • 9:13p, 10/30/26
Timbear said:
BearFan33 said:
Can we do ball control and use clock?


SCORE MORE!


Yes shouldn't have taken foot off the gas.
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boognish_bear
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9:13p, 10/30/26
I'm feeling greedy. Don't give up any more points. I want a lopsided score.
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boognish_bear
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9:14p, 10/30/26
We've got such sure tacklers
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Johnny Bear
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:14p, 10/30/26
boognish_bear said:
It's unbelievable how frequently we get into the backfield on defense each week. Feels like it almost never happened last year.

That's because it didn't. Night and day difference with our D's ability to get penetration this season and last year..
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Dia del DougO
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9:14p, 10/30/26
Baylor is tackling pretty well tonight. Some of these guys look llke they're gonna get shaken loose, hang on like bulldogs and get the stop.
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BearlyBeloved
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9:14p, 10/30/26
DJ doing really fine, but I expect Klanderman puts in Bennett in the 4th, and not just in garbage time. Something Aranda would not do.
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Dia del DougO
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9:15p, 10/30/26
Big stop. Things are looking very good.
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BearFan33
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9:16p, 10/30/26
Wow 4th an7

Too early to go for it

Nice hold D
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Dia del DougO
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9:16p, 10/30/26
Burn that clock.
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BearFan33
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9:16p, 10/30/26
Snap it with 2 sec left
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Dia del DougO
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9:17p, 10/30/26
Can we trade for another OT before the deadline?
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boognish_bear
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:17p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
DJ doing really fine, but I expect Klanderman puts in Bennett in the 4th, and not just in garbage time. Something Aranda would not do.


A lot of us were hoping Bennett would get a shot tonight...i don't think anyone thought it would be in mop up duty
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Blackout Sniper
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9:17p, 10/30/26
3 penalties for the brothers combined. Smh
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ImABearToo
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9:17p, 10/30/26
Drive killer.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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whitetrash
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9:18p, 10/30/26
Just when I joke with the Mrs. that the refs apparently had used up their quota of flags already, they call another holding.
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boognish_bear
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 9:18p, 10/30/26
Dia del DougO said:
Can we trade for another OT before the deadline?


Well...BU bball signed a guy during the season last year...
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Dia del DougO
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9:18p, 10/30/26
Damn OL penalties...
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Blackout Sniper
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9:19p, 10/30/26
That's like 5 penalties on the OL tonight.
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oldbear69
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9:19p, 10/30/26
homers trying to keep it close,,geez 12 penalties...
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BUGWBBear
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9:19p, 10/30/26
Yet another beauty play wrecked by holding
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whitetrash
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9:19p, 10/30/26
Knighten comes up gimpy.
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BearFan33
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9:19p, 10/30/26
Holding on running plays?

They watching a little 2 close
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historian
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9:19p, 10/30/26
Great run wiped out by another penalty!
12 penalties for 85 yards
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boognish_bear
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In reply to Blackout Sniper • 9:20p, 10/30/26
Blackout Sniper said:
That's like 5 penalties on the OL tonight.


Hard to complain much tonight...but these penalties have been really ugly. That will bite us in the ass against the better teams coming up later.
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Nick95
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9:20p, 10/30/26
Shooting ourselves in the foot.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN
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BearFan33
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9:20p, 10/30/26
We going the wrong way on offense
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to Blackout Sniper • 9:20p, 10/30/26
Blackout Sniper said:
That's like 5 penalties on the OL tonight.


Less than average?
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KIA
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9:20p, 10/30/26
Our OL is so bad ...
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BUGWBBear
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:20p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
Blackout Sniper said:
That's like 5 penalties on the OL tonight.


Less than average?


I think 12 was the O/U
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BearFan33
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9:21p, 10/30/26
We burned 4 minutes at least
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PlanoTXBear
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9:21p, 10/30/26
i'd like a congressional hearing on the sieracki brothers. is it just incompetence or something more?
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Aliceinbubbleland
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9:21p, 10/30/26
These penalties are throwing shade on this game. You can't get away with this against good opposition
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BUGWBBear
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9:21p, 10/30/26
And noodle leg returns
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boognish_bear
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9:21p, 10/30/26
Well...Bennett may not be getting mop up duty just yet
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