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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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

40,292 Views | 548 Replies | Last: 12 hrs ago by boognish_bear
Johnny Bear
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9:37p, 10/30/26
Time for Bennett the rest of the way. Absolutely no need to risk injury the rest of the way.
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Stefano DiMera
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In reply to oldbear69 • 9:38p, 10/30/26
No..the largest comeback in Baylor history a couple years ago took care of that.
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Quinton
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In reply to KIA • 9:38p, 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.


They controlled the game v BYU and were handling UH before melting down. They aren't very good but they're capable in spots - our D is just nasty.

If David had D1 players to man the o line this would be a pretty good football team.
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boognish_bear
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In reply to Timbear • 9:39p, 10/30/26
Timbear said:
Hats off to DJ! Great game, DJ. You lived up to the hype tonight. Fantastic.


Absolutely....he was the man tonight. Can't wait to see if he can keep building on this.
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BearFan33
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9:39p, 10/30/26
Bennet time please (saw DJ warming)
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Timbear
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9:40p, 10/30/26
Klan is a dadgum coach and motivator.
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bunkie68
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9:41p, 10/30/26
It's refreshing to see the Bears play with energy. Our D is top tier. Our O-line needs work. But for this game, at least, Baylor football is fun again!
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whitetrash
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9:41p, 10/30/26
Refcam not unlike Letterman's Monkeycam of yore.
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Team America
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9:42p, 10/30/26
Really don't understand why DJ is still out there.
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to BearFan33 • 9:43p, 10/30/26
BearFan33 said:
Bennet time please (saw DJ warming)

I thought it would be, but not so.
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historian
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9:43p, 10/30/26
Homecoming next week will be interesting
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whitetrash
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9:44p, 10/30/26
Game has been going on for 3 hrs and 10 minutes and still 9:28 to play.
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WA Jim
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9:45p, 10/30/26
It will elevate Klanderman, in my mind, if he nitpicks the problem issues and just doesn't relish in the score - the offensive line is abysmal and needs to be called out by the interim coach
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BearlyBeloved
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9:45p, 10/30/26
Question: If Klanderman wins the HC job, would Spav stay?
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whitetrash
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9:45p, 10/30/26
Crap. they converted a 3rd down.
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Jacques Strap
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9:46p, 10/30/26
If only they'd fired Dave after TCU…
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BearFan33
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:46p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
Question: If Klanderman wins the HC job, would Spav stay?


Why not if money is good
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to whitetrash • 9:46p, 10/30/26
whitetrash said:
Crap. they converted a 3rd down.

Are we subbing?
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sj2
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In reply to whitetrash • 9:47p, 10/30/26
Baylor and Letterman alum here. Monkeycam created by Randy Cohen. He'll be pleased it's still remembered.
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BearlyBeloved
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9:47p, 10/30/26
6 sacks, 11 TFL's
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Blackout Sniper
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:47p, 10/30/26
Just my opinion, if Spav offense can generate this kind of offense the rest of season, I'd think he'd stay for continuity. Just would need to inject the team with better OL

BearlyBeloved said:
Question: If Klanderman wins the HC job, would Spav stay?
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oldbear69
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9:47p, 10/30/26
If only he can beat campbell and tech,,,
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BUGWBBear
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In reply to WA Jim • 9:47p, 10/30/26
WA Jim said:
It will elevate Klanderman, in my mind, if he nitpicks the problem issues and just doesn't relish in the score - the offensive line is abysmal and needs to be called out by the interim coach


What he does against BYU, Tech, and UH will be the determining factor.
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:48p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
6 sacks, 11 TFL's

Now 7
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PaperBear89
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:48p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
Question: If Klanderman wins the HC job, would Spav stay?

To follow on to the Tap the Brakes comment earlier, this is a crap defense we're scoring on.
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boognish_bear
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 9:48p, 10/30/26
BearlyBeloved said:
BearFan33 said:
Bennet time please (saw DJ warming)

I thought it would be, but not so.


Not much to question Klandy on tonight...but I don't understand at all leaving DJ out there.

Klandy is coaching for a chance to be considered HC...why would he risk injury to QB1 with the game well in hand.
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BearFan33
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9:50p, 10/30/26
Don't let them in!
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Aliceinbubbleland
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:51p, 10/30/26
DJ is good game bad game historically. Let him play and break that curse.
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Blackout Sniper
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In reply to PaperBear89 • 9:51p, 10/30/26
To be honest, the defense has played pretty good all season. Even in the losses.

PaperBear89 said:
BearlyBeloved said:
Question: If Klanderman wins the HC job, would Spav stay?

To follow on to the Tap the Brakes comment earlier, this is a crap defense we're scoring on.
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BearlyBeloved
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9:52p, 10/30/26
Stopped! I love this D!
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boognish_bear
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In reply to BearFan33 • 9:52p, 10/30/26
BearFan33 said:
Don't let them in!


Glad we didn't give up that cheapy
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whitetrash
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9:52p, 10/30/26
Since UCF was up 35-10 at the end of the 3rd quarter in 2023, BU has outscored them 98-12 in the 9 quarters since. With no TDs given up.
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Stefano DiMera
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9:52p, 10/30/26
I was wrong..I said 17 was enough on offense...10 would have been good.
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BearlyBeloved
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:53p, 10/30/26
boognish_bear said:
BearFan33 said:
Don't let them in!


Glad we didn't give up that cheapy

D has pride!
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Bear in AL
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9:53p, 10/30/26
Whether it's HC or DC, Baylor needs to do whatever is necessary to keep Klanderman.
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