Baylor’s 41-9 win over UCF in Orlando gave Dave Aranda’s team a clean snapshot of what clicked and what still needs work. The Bears got big days from their quarterback, their defensive front, and enough help from several other spots to leave with an emphatic result.
DJ Lagway was the headline on offense. He finished 16-of-?
no, 16 completions for 319 yards and four touchdowns, and he added 23 rushing yards as well. It was a much sharper version of Lagway than Baylor had seen in recent weeks.
He moved well, looked healthy, and showed more confidence in the pocket. The deep ball was there, too.
Most importantly, he did not throw an interception.
If that version of Lagway sticks, Baylor’s offense has a much higher ceiling.
The Bears also got production from a wider group of pass catchers. Six different receivers hauled in at least one pass, with Freeman pacing the group on five catches for 114 yards.
Jadon Porter added two grabs for 74 yards, while Dre'lon Miller chipped in two receptions for 44 yards after not being featured much this season. Baylor needed others to step forward in the receiver room, and against UCF, they did.
The ground game showed signs of life as well. Baylor ran for 161 yards, led by Ryelan Morris, who went for 82 yards on 11 carries and averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.
Michael Turner added 41 yards on 12 carries, Caden Knighten finished with 31 yards on seven carries, and Dawson Pendergrass had seven yards on his lone run. For a team that has struggled to build momentum on the ground, this was a welcome step forward.
The tight ends also made their mark in the red zone. Tony Livingston caught two passes for 25 yards, and both went for touchdowns.
Matthew Klopfenstein added a five-yard touchdown catch of his own. Those three scores helped make this a strong outing for the group.
Up front, the run blocking was better than it had been for much of the season. The Bears still had penalties to clean up, and they allowed three sacks, but the line did enough to support the offense and contribute to the overall success.
On the other side of the ball, Baylor’s defensive line kept controlling games the way it has all season. UCF managed just 66 rushing yards, and the pressure never really let up.
Baylor piled up seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, with the front playing a major role in both totals. It remains Baylor’s most reliable position group.
The linebackers helped bottle up the Knights on early downs and stayed active around the football. That effort helped keep UCF from getting much going on the ground and supported another strong defensive showing.
In the secondary, UCF’s passing numbers were mostly built after the Knights had already fallen behind. They finished with 215 passing yards, but much of that came while chasing the game.
Devon Jordan added another interception, continuing to make plays back there. Overall, the group did its job in limiting the passing attack and keeping UCF out of the end zone.
Special teams were steady enough to round out the performance. Rhett Armstrong hit two of his three field-goal tries and made all five extra points, while Palmer Williams punted five times and averaged 41.4 yards per kick. Armstrong did miss once, but the unit still turned in a decent day overall.
In Other News...
Baylor Just Delivered The Kind Of Win Fans Have Been Waiting For
Baylor finally got the kind of response game its fans have been waiting for, and it came with a jolt of urgency. Playing under interim coach Joe Klanderman after the firing of Dave Aranda, the Bears rolled past UCF 41-9 and never let the Knights settle in after their emotional double-overtime win against BYU the week before.
UCF spent the afternoon fighting uphill on both sides of the ball, and the offense never found a rhythm. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins left with an ankle injury, the Knights were sacked a season-high seven times, and Baylor kept control from start to finish in a result that gave this team a much-needed lift as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Just Got A Reason To Play With A Chip On Its Shoulder
Baylor opened the preseason with a reminder that the numbers in the Big 12 media poll do not always tell the whole story. Picked seventh in a 16-team league that is expected to be as rugged as ever, the Bears have already shown they can hang with elite competition, turning in strong exhibition showings against Florida and Illinois, both highly ranked teams.
The ranking gives Scott Drews group a clear edge to lean into as the season begins, especially in a conference where every night can reshape the standings. Baylor has enough talent to push for an NCAA tournament return, and being overlooked in October can be a useful motivator if the Bears keep carrying that edge into league play. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Finally Looked Like The Team Fans Expected All Season
Baylor finally put together the kind of complete performance it has been chasing all season, rolling past UCF 41-9 and showing the balance and urgency that had been missing at times in a 5-3 start. With four games left and tougher opponents still ahead, the Bears needed more than just a win. They needed evidence that the version fans expected in September was still in there somewhere.
Joe Klanderman handled head-coaching duties in the game while continuing to call the defense, and DJ Lagway gave the offense a clear lift by throwing for 319 yards and four touchdowns after working back from an ankle injury. Even with the breakout showing, Baylor still has cleanup work to do, especially with penalties continuing to pop up, and the next stretch will say plenty about whether this was a one-week surge or the start of something steadier. [Read more 🡒]