Baylor heads back to Waco on Saturday with momentum in hand after a convincing road win, and Iowa State arrives trying to steady itself on the road.
The Bears improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 by rolling past UCF 41-9 on Oct. 30, a game that came only days after the dismissal of head coach Dave Aranda. Baylor also walked into that matchup with the Knights coming off a win over then-No. 2 BYU, but the Bears controlled it anyway.
Quarterback DJ Lagway led the charge, completing 16 of 25 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. One of his biggest targets was Gavin Freeman, who hauled in five catches for 114 yards and a score. It was Freeman’s third game over 100 receiving yards in Baylor’s last four, and his 63 total receptions still lead the Big 12.
Lagway also found tight end Tony Livingston twice for touchdowns. Livingston transferred to Baylor from Florida alongside Lagway, and the performance against UCF hinted that the connection may be starting to hit its stride.
"To just see him flourish and make plays and used well, it’s just great to see," Lagway said of Livingston.
Iowa State comes in at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12, and the Cyclones are still chasing their first road win of 2026. They beat then-No. 24 Oklahoma State 51-49 last Saturday in Ames, one week after getting thumped 39-3 at Arizona.
"My mind has kind of moved on from last week’s success, because (if) we go out and lay an egg and play like how we did against (Arizona), (the win over Oklahoma State) doesn’t do anything," Cyclones coach Jimmy Rogers said in his Tuesday press conference.
Aiden Flora was a major reason Iowa State got back on track. After managing just 36 rushing yards at Arizona, he exploded for a career-high 221 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma State. It was his third game with multiple rushing touchdowns and his second 200-yard rushing outing of the season.
That challenge gets tougher against a Baylor defense that has been strong against the run, allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. Rogers pointed to Baylor interim head coach Joe Klanderman, calling him "defensive-minded."
Saturday also brings a familiar matchup for Rogers and Klanderman. The two have crossed paths before while spending time at FCS powers and conference rivals South Dakota State and North Dakota State, respectively.
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Baylor Faces A Huge Homecoming Test With Momentum Suddenly Building
Baylors season has taken on a different feel since Dave Arandas departure, and the Bears carried that into a win over UCF under interim head coach Joe Klanderman. Now they turn to homecoming with Iowa State coming to Waco, a matchup that arrives at a moment when Baylor is trying to prove the momentum is real and not just a one-week bounce.
The expectation around the Bears is a familiar one: solid defense, enough offense to stay on schedule, and a chance for the new staff to keep the group moving in the right direction. DJ Lagways recognition as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after the UCF game only adds to the attention, and Baylor will need him to carry that form into a tougher test against the Cyclones. [Read more 🡒]