Lagway's 41-yard strike seals 41-9 Baylor win over UCF

A Dominant Visiting Effort

Baylor Bears quarterback DJ Lagway capped a four-touchdown afternoon with a five-yard pass to Matthew Klopfenstein, securing a 41-9 victory over the host UCF Knights. The decisive performance came on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida, where 45,906 spectators watched the visitors dismantle the home squad. Lagway completed 16 of 25 passes for 319 yards, providing the spark that UCF could not counter. The Bears' offensive line and skill players moved the ball with efficiency, while the Knights struggled to find consistent rhythm against Baylor's defensive pressure.

Second-Quarter Momentum Shift

Baylor established early control, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a seven-yard pass from Lagway to Tony Livingston. The margin expanded significantly in the second period. Caden Knighten added a two-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14-0. UCF’s Will Stone responded with a 39-yard field goal, but Baylor answered with two field goals of its own. Rhett Armstrong kicked a 45-yarder and a 29-yarder, while Stone added a 57-yard field goal for the Knights. Baylor led 20-6 at halftime, having outscored UCF 13-6 in that period alone.

Third-Quarter Surge

The Bears’ offense exploded in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to extend their lead. Lagway connected with Livingston on a 21-yard pass, followed by a spectacular 77-yard strike to Gavin Freeman. Freeman finished the game with five receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown, serving as the primary target for Lagway. UCF’s Will Stone added a 35-yard field goal to close the gap slightly, but the damage was already done. Baylor entered the final period with a 34-9 advantage, having outscored the Knights 14-3 in the third quarter.

Final Records and Stats

The fourth quarter saw Baylor add another touchdown, with Lagway finding Klopfenstein for the final points. UCF’s Alonza Barnett III completed 8 of 16 passes for 133 yards, while Rocco Marriott rushed for 50 yards on two carries. Josh Derry led the Knights in receiving with three catches for 70 yards. For Baylor, Ryelan Morris contributed 82 rushing yards on 11 carries. The result improves Baylor’s record to 5-3, while UCF falls to 4-4.

Sources

ESPN