Baylor Dominates UCF 41-9 in Coaching Debut for Klanderman
Baylor’s interim head coach Joe Klanderman secured a decisive 41-9 victory over UCF on Friday night in Orlando, marking a dramatic turnaround for the Bears just days after the program parted ways with Dave Aranda. According to ESPN, the win snapped a two-game losing streak for Baylor (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) and effectively neutralized UCF’s momentum following the Knights’ upset victory over BYU last week. The Bears accumulated over 450 yards of total offense by the end of the third quarter, signaling an immediate shift in tactical execution under Klanderman’s leadership.
DJ Lagway Delivers Four Touchdowns for Baylor
Quarterback DJ Lagway fueled the Baylor offense, finishing 16-of-25 for 319 yards and four touchdowns. ESPN reports that Lagway, a transfer from Florida, displayed improved comfort in the pocket and mobility, tallying 23 rushing yards on 11 carries despite earlier season concerns regarding an ankle injury. His performance included a 77-yard touchdown pass to receiver Gavin Freeman, who entered the contest ranked third in the nation in receptions per game.
“I thought DJ cut it loose tonight,” Klanderman said. “I thought he cut it loose like I’ve never seen him cut it loose. He’s getting healthier, and he’s just playing with a lot of confidence.”
Lagway benefited from strong play by the tight ends, as Tony Livingston caught two touchdown passes and Matthew Klopfenstein caught another. The Bears’ offensive output contrasted sharply with their previous outing against Kansas, as the team maintained intensity throughout the second half despite holding a significant lead.
Keyone Jenkins Exits with Lower Leg Injury
The Knights (4-4, 2-3) failed to establish a rhythm for much of the evening, managing only 215 total yards. Starting quarterback Keyone Jenkins struggled early, completing 14-of-21 passes for 82 yards and an interception before exiting the game in the third quarter with a lower leg injury. His replacement, Alonza Barnett III, provided a brief spark upon returning from a five-game hamstring absence, throwing for 133 yards on 8-of-16 passing. However, UCF could not sustain drives against a Baylor defense that recorded five sacks on the night, including a final stop by Devin Turner.
ESPN noted that UCF’s special teams provided one of the few highlights for the home crowd, as kicker Rhett Armstrong converted a 57-yard field goal before halftime, establishing a new program record for the longest field goal in school history.
Baylor Prepares for Iowa State After Victory
This result shifts the trajectory for both programs as they head into the final stretch of the conference schedule. For Baylor, the victory provides a necessary jolt of confidence following a coaching change that occurred after a narrow 25-24 loss to Kansas. The Bears now look toward their upcoming home game against Iowa State next Saturday. Conversely, UCF faces a quick turnaround, with a road trip to Lawrence to face Kansas on the docket for next weekend.
The loss in the 10th iteration of the “Space Game”—a contest celebrating the school’s aerospace ties—drops UCF to 8-2 in the annual event. While the Knights previously celebrated their highest-profile win in program history against BYU, the inability to move the chains against Baylor highlights lingering inconsistencies in their offensive production that will need to be addressed before facing Kansas.
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