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

40,293 Views | 548 Replies | Last: 12 hrs ago by boognish_bear
TechDawgMc
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9:21p, 10/30/26
This has been a long third quarter
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Dia del DougO
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9:22p, 10/30/26

OK, four possession lead. One more quarter.

Clamp it down!
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Team America
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9:22p, 10/30/26
The penalties have been awful and the only blemish tonight.
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BUGWBBear
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In reply to TechDawgMc • 9:23p, 10/30/26
TechDawgMc said:
This has been a long third quarter


What's the single game record on penalties from one team? We are apparently trying to achieve it
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Mitch Blood Green
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:24p, 10/30/26
boognish_bear said:
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


He should go in next series. They've brought in their 2.
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Jack Bauer
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9:24p, 10/30/26
Total Yards:
452 to 158
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boognish_bear
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In reply to Mitch Blood Green • 9:24p, 10/30/26
Mitch Blood Green said:
boognish_bear said:
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


He should go in next series. They've brought in their 2.


I think their QB1 got hurt didn't he?
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oldbear69
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9:25p, 10/30/26
dont go into prevent,,,keep pressure onqb..
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Aliceinbubbleland
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9:25p, 10/30/26
12 penalties for 85 yards.
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historian
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In reply to Mitch Blood Green • 9:25p, 10/30/26
Only because Jenkins injured his leg
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KIA
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:26p, 10/30/26
boognish_bear said:
Mitch Blood Green said:
boognish_bear said:
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


He should go in next series. They've brought in their 2.


I think their QB1 got hurt didn't he?

Yes. Leg injury
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WA Jim
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9:26p, 10/30/26
Who in the name of All Things Decent coaches this offensive line?
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whitetrash
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In reply to BUGWBBear • 9:26p, 10/30/26
BUGWBBear said:
TechDawgMc said:
This has been a long third quarter


What's the single game record on penalties from one team? We are apparently trying to achieve it

I had an idea, but looked it up on the BU website to confirm the school record. It was 19 for 144 yds against OregonSt in 1998 during the Dirty Dave Roberts era.

Second most was 18 for school record 215 yds in the loss to WV in 2014, but that game had a lot of dubious calls against us.
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Jack Bauer
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9:28p, 10/30/26
another 3 and out!
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BearFan33
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9:28p, 10/30/26
Impressive

Defense does it again
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Quinton
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9:29p, 10/30/26
Strange game - total domination + yet one of the worst o line performances I've ever seen
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:29p, 10/30/26
boognish_bear said:
Mitch Blood Green said:
boognish_bear said:
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


He should go in next series. They've brought in their 2.


I think their QB1 got hurt didn't he?

Hamstring
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Blackout Sniper
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9:29p, 10/30/26
Defense is traveling well
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Delmar 2.0
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9:31p, 10/30/26
TOUCHDOWN B:TCHES!!!
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Jack Bauer
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9:31p, 10/30/26
The DAGGER!!!

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Dia del DougO
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9:31p, 10/30/26
Total beatdown.

Almost feel sorry for UCF.

Great night for Baylor.

Might be Bennett time.
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BearlyBeloved
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9:32p, 10/30/26
Lagway's last play in this game throws TD!
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Dia del DougO
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9:32p, 10/30/26
Are we beating the spread?
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Waco1947
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9:33p, 10/30/26
Now for Bennett
Waco1947
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Dia del DougO
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9:33p, 10/30/26
Maybe get some other OL guys some time, too. We need somebody to step up for the rest of the season.
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KIA
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9:33p, 10/30/26
UCF isn't good but:

They had not lost at home all year.
They did beat a top 10 team.
Combined margin of defeat in first 3 losses: 29 points.
So far tonight: -32 points.

Lots of positives.
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BluesBear
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9:34p, 10/30/26
Line was 1.5
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whitetrash
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 9:35p, 10/30/26
Dia del DougO said:
Are we beating the spread?

We're beating the spread, the hummus, the cream cheese, and the Parkay.
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Aliceinbubbleland
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9:35p, 10/30/26
Ok guys. Tap the breaks a bit. This thread sounds exactly like the ASU game thread. UCF seems even more demoralized tan ASU.

Team and coaches deserve all the credit for demoralizing opponents. Lets hope we can continue this and stop the good game bad game this team has shown. Until tonight
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BearlySpeaking
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9:36p, 10/30/26
I'm impressed with the team tonight. I was hoping for at least a decent performance, but I never expected this kind of game.
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BluesBear
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9:36p, 10/30/26
We have a chance to mess up some other teams season. Would love it if we could run the table.
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boognish_bear
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In reply to KIA • 9:36p, 10/30/26
KIA said:
UCF isn't good but:

They had not lost at home all year.
They did beat a top 10 team.
Combined margin of defeat in first 3 losses: 29 points.
So far tonight: -32 points.

Lots of positives.


UCF is probably a middle of the pack B12 team. To go on the road and beat them this handily is legit impressive.
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oldbear69
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9:37p, 10/30/26
Ok. is this redemption for 2014 Fiesta Bowl?
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Stefano DiMera
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In reply to KIA • 9:37p, 10/30/26
A top 2 team.
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Timbear
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9:37p, 10/30/26
Hats off to DJ! Great game, DJ. You lived up to the hype tonight. Fantastic.
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