Baylor’s blowout at UCF did more than give Joe Klanderman a clean start as interim head coach. It nudged the Bears closer to bowl eligibility and gave them a better look in the national picture heading into Saturday’s homecoming game against Iowa State.
At 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, Baylor still sits outside the Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday, Nov. 1, and it also drew no votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll. But the Bears did move in the right direction in a pair of full FBS rankings after the 41-9 win in Orlando.
The Athletic bumped Baylor up 15 spots to No. 50.
CBS Sports moved the Bears even higher, lifting them 19 places to No. 36.
That’s a noticeable rebound after Baylor had fallen from No. 39 to No. 65 in The Athletic’s rankings over the previous two weeks, and it had been slotted at No. 30 by CBS before the recent losses.
The win at UCF mattered because Baylor needed a response after consecutive defeats to TCU and Kansas had raised doubts about how sustainable the early-season run really was. Against the Knights, the Bears looked far more complete on both sides of the ball than they had in those earlier setbacks.
The Big 12’s national profile also shifted around Baylor this week. Utah climbed three spots to No. 3 in the AP poll after beating Cincinnati 49-25, giving the league its highest-ranked team.
BYU moved up one place to No. 7 after a 27-20 win over Arizona State. Texas Tech stayed at No. 13 after its 34-26 victory over Arizona, while Houston rose to No. 17 during its bye week and Arizona slipped to No.
Oklahoma State was the team that fell out, dropping after a 51-49 loss at Iowa State. The Cowboys received three voting points, leaving the conference with five ranked teams instead of six.
That matters for Baylor’s path the rest of the month. Three of those ranked Big 12 teams are still on the schedule: the Bears go to BYU on Nov. 14, host Texas Tech on Nov. 21 and close at Houston on Nov.
- Those games give Baylor a chance to build a résumé that currently does not include a win over anyone in the latest AP rankings.
The coaches’ poll painted a similar picture. Utah checked in at No. 4, followed by BYU at No.
8, Texas Tech at No. 13, Houston at No. 18 and Arizona at No.
- Oklahoma State picked up nine points just outside the top 25, and Cincinnati got one.
Saturday’s matchup with Iowa State is about more than just getting to six wins, though. The Cyclones come to McLane Stadium after upsetting Oklahoma State, so Baylor will be facing another team riding the momentum of a big result.
For the Bears, the offensive formula from UCF will be the one to carry forward. More help beyond Gavin Freeman, continued involvement from the tight ends and a running game that can create manageable passing downs would all make Lagway’s job easier.
If Baylor can stack that kind of performance again, Klanderman’s team will do more than improve its standing in the rankings. It will secure bowl eligibility at home.
In Other News...
Baylor Exposed Problems At UCF That Just Got Even Worse
Baylors 41-9 win at UCF did more than hand the Knights a lopsided loss. It also put a spotlight on problems that were already simmering, from an offense that never found the end zone for the first time this season to a defense that gave up a season-high 503 yards. Scott Frost and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch both pointed to the same broad issues afterward, with the offensive line struggling to hold up and the defense dealing with communication breakdowns that Baylor was able to exploit.
The concern for UCF has only deepened with the injury news that followed. Owen Spell and RJ Jackson Jr. are both done for the season, leaving the Knights to sort through a difficult stretch with fewer answers and less margin for error. For a team already trying to clean up execution on both sides of the ball, the Baylor game looked less like an outlier than a warning sign. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors New-Look Roster Gave Fans An Encouraging First Glimpse
Baylors new-look mens basketball roster gave fans an encouraging first glimpse in the 2026-27 season opener, an 87-65 win over Northwestern State that never really felt in doubt. The Bears led from start to finish, built an 18-point cushion by halftime and kept the Demons at arms length the rest of the way, never allowing the margin to shrink below 15 in the second half.
What stood out beyond the final score was how quickly the rotation started to take shape. Four Baylor players finished in double figures, and 10 players made their Baylor debuts in the game, a reminder of just how much turnover this team is managing as it begins a new season. For a group trying to establish identity early, the opener offered a useful first step, even if the bigger tests are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Have Plenty To Watch In The NFL Right Now
Baylor fans have had plenty of familiar names to track across the NFL schedule the past two weeks, with several former Bears getting game action in Weeks Seven and Eight. James Lynch delivered a notable moment with the first interception of his career, while Terrel Bernard turned in a strong outing for the Buffalo Bills, giving Baylor supporters a little something extra to follow beyond the college game.
The injury side of the ledger is less encouraging, though, as Jalen Pitre and Tyquan Thornton are still sidelined. Pitres return remains uncertain, and Thornton is hoping to work his way back in time for the playoffs, leaving Baylor fans to keep one eye on the weekly box scores and another on the injury reports. [Read more 🡒]