The latest AP Top 25 poll brought a fresh reminder that UCF’s 2026 schedule is loaded with teams making noise right now. One former Knights opponent climbed into the rankings, another is dealing with a season-ending injury at quarterback, and a third turned in a road blowout that sent a clear message before its trip to Orlando later this fall.
The biggest result of the group came in Fort Worth, where BYU slipped past TCU, 17-10. The Horned Frogs were coming off their loss to UCF last weekend and stayed within striking distance throughout, never falling more than 10 points behind. But the Cougars did enough to leave with the win, and they did it while leaning hard on the run game.
BYU had to adjust after running back LJ Martin was injured early, exiting after just two carries and a reception. Even so, the Cougars still controlled the ground game, finishing with a 154-72 edge in rushing yards.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier took on the workload as the primary runner, carrying 15 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, though, he had a quieter night, completing 11 of 24 passes for 62 yards.
TCU quarterback Jaden Craig threw for 187 yards, more than Bachmeier, but that only produced one touchdown and came with an interception. The Horned Frogs also struggled to keep drives alive, converting just four of 13 third downs while BYU went 8 of 16.
The Cougars, now No. 8 in the AP Top 25, are set to visit the Acrisure Bounce House on Oct. 24.
Pittsburgh also took a step forward in the rankings, but the Panthers’ 35-33 win over Virginia Tech came with a brutal price. Starting quarterback Mason Heintschel left the game injured after going 10-of-18 for 113 yards and a touchdown. On Saturday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported he had torn his ACL and would miss the rest of the season.
Even with Heintschel sidelined, Pittsburgh found enough offense to hold off the Hokies. Backup Holden Geriner added 78 passing yards and a touchdown, while the Panthers’ ground game found the end zone three times with three different players. The defense did its part too, continuing to be a major strength by limiting Virginia Tech to just 65 net rushing yards.
Virginia Tech eventually turned to the pass, and Ethan Grunkemeyer piled up 434 yards and three touchdowns on 30 completions in 41 attempts. But he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, and Pittsburgh forced four turnovers overall.
The Panthers’ body of work, including a 14-7 win over UCF, pushed them into the AP Top 25 at No. 25.
Then there was Baylor, which delivered the most lopsided result of the three. The Bears went into Arizona State and rolled to a 55-19 win in a matchup between two teams UCF will see later this season. Both quarterbacks put up big passing numbers - Baylor’s DJ Lagway and Arizona State’s Cutter Boley each threw for more than 300 yards - but Baylor’s defense controlled the game where it mattered most.
The Bears held Arizona State to 99 rushing yards and now rank 22nd in the nation against the run. On offense, Baylor piled up 244 rushing yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, spread across four different running backs plus Lagway. The defense also kept feeding the offense with five takeaways, including two on downs, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Baylor is scheduled to come to Orlando on Oct. 30, while Arizona State will make its visit on Nov. 14.
In Other News...
Baylor Vs TCU Just Got A Bigger Stage Than Fans Expected
Baylors midseason meeting with TCU just picked up a little more shine. The Big 12 announced that the rivalry game in Waco will kick off at 6 p.m. CT in Week 7 and air on FS1, giving the Bears a prime-night backdrop for a matchup that already carries plenty of weight in conference play. Baylor enters at 4-1, and the program also plans to lean into the occasion with blackout uniforms for the occasion.
The timing only adds to the intrigue for a series that has delivered its share of memorable moments over the years. With both the current seasons momentum and the history between the two programs in play, this one was already going to matter inside the league race. Now it will do so under the lights, with a little more attention than fans may have expected when the schedule first came out. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Arizona State Breakout Just Turned Into Something Bigger
DJ Lagway and Ryelan Morris turned Baylors trip to Arizona State into a showcase, and the Big 12 took notice. The junior quarterback and freshman running back were both honored for Week 5 after helping the Bears roll to a 55-19 win, with Lagway earning Offensive Player of the Week and Morris taking home Freshman of the Week.
Lagway piled up 306 passing yards and accounted for five total touchdowns, giving Baylor the kind of efficient, explosive night it has been chasing. Morris added another layer to the rout with 84 rushing yards and the first touchdown of his career, a strong follow-up that gives the Bears more reason to feel good about their young backfield as the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Got Picked Apart Where It Hurt Most Against Baylor
Baylors rout of Arizona State was built on efficiency where it mattered most, and the Bears made the Sun Devils pay every time the field got tight. In a 55-19 win, Baylor turned seven of eight red-zone trips into touchdowns, a decisive edge that kept the pressure on and never let Arizona State settle in. Quarterback DJ Lagway, back from an ankle injury, was at the center of it, matching or setting career bests with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score while operating comfortably in the condensed space near the goal line.
The encouraging part for Baylor is how much cleaner the offense looked with Lagway moving well again and finding receivers in rhythm. His red-zone success showed both his improved mobility and the timing he has built with his targets, and several key plays came at moments when Arizona State needed a stop to stay within reach. Baylor didnt just win because it moved the ball, it won because it finished drives, and that difference was as stark as the score. [Read more 🡒]