Scott Frost isn’t treating Baylor like a team in transition.
Yes, the Bears fired David Aranda after back-to-back losses, and yes, defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman has taken over as interim coach. But Frost said that change doesn’t make Friday’s matchup any easier for UCF, which is coming off a historic upset of then-No. 2 BYU and trying to keep its momentum rolling.
Frost pointed to Baylor’s defense as the big challenge. The Bears rank fourth in the country against the run, giving up 104.1 yards per game, and 10th against the pass at 236 yards per game. That kind of profile could force UCF to work for everything, even if quarterback Keyone Jenkins has been riding the “hot hand” after last Saturday’s win.
There’s some history here for UCF, too. The Knights have already seen Klanderman’s defenses twice since joining the Big 12 in 2023, back when he was coordinating Kansas State. In those two meetings, his units allowed 25.5 points, 230.5 passing yards and 174 rushing yards per game.
The stakes are obvious for UCF. The Knights are two wins away from bowl eligibility, and Friday gives them a chance to keep building on last week’s breakthrough.
The game also carries a specific edge because it’s the 10th annual Space Game, a nod to UCF’s ties to the space industry. The school unveiled its Mission X uniforms on Sept. 29, featuring a white base, Modified Microgramma numbers inspired by 1960s science fiction, a Canaveral Blue collar, and pants with red stripes on the right and blue on the left.
UCF had owned the annual event for eight straight years before Houston snapped that run last season with a 30-27 win. Safety Kentrell Webb sealed that game with an interception of former UCF quarterback Davi Belfort.
Now the Knights are trying to answer that loss and shake off one of their roughest performances of the year at the same time. Baylor blew them out 30-3 in the previous meeting, with Big 12 passing leader Sawyer Robertson throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns to future NFL teammates Kole Wilson, Michael Trigg and Josh Cameron.
UCF could also get a boost from the injury front. Frost said running back Taevion Swint and linebacker Lewis Carter could be game-time decisions Friday, and if they don’t go, they would still be game-time decisions next week against Kansas State.
In Other News...
Big 12 Takes Strong Stand After What BYU Faced At UCF
A football game that should have been remembered for the action on the field instead became a problem for the stadium atmosphere, and the Big 12 moved quickly to make that clear. The conference said UCF had followed pregame protocols and took immediate steps during the game to remove the people responsible for the anti-religious chants directed at BYU fans, a response that likely mattered in how the league viewed the situation.
The bigger takeaway is that the incident is not being treated as an isolated embarrassment. The Big 12 used the case to announce a new approach to discriminatory conduct at athletic events, one that brings heavier discipline for schools and more consequences when behavior crosses the line. For UCF, the immediate issue is the fine, but the long-term concern is how the league intends to police this kind of conduct going forward. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Defense Faces A Harsh Baylor Test In The Space Game
UCF heads into its Space Game matchup with Baylor already trying to manage a thin defensive margin, and the timing could not be worse. The Knights are preparing to do it without senior linebacker Lewis Carter and without senior defensive back Demari Henderson, two experienced pieces who have helped anchor the unit as the schedule tightens.
Hendersons absence is the bigger blow in the secondary, where UCF will need others to step into larger roles in a hurry. Antione Jackson and Jayden Bellamy are among the defensive backs who will be asked to absorb those snaps, and against a Baylor offense, the Knights will need that reshuffled group to hold up from the start. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Gets One Last Measuring Stick Against Kentucky
Kentucky will get one last tune-up against UCF before the games start counting for real, and for the Knights it is a chance to see how they stack up against a team still ironing out the edges of its preseason work. The Wildcats have been solid through their first two exhibition games, but the focus remains on cleaning up defensive rebounding and sharpening player efficiency, the kind of details that often separate a good preseason from a useful one.
For UCF, the matchup offers a clear measuring stick against a high-major opponent with regular-season prep in its sights. The game will be on SEC Network at 6 p.m. ET, and Kentucky is using it as the final exhibition step before opening against Manhattan, which adds a little more urgency to whatever the Wildcats want to test in Orlando. [Read more 🡒]