October 30, 2026 Week 9 · Regular Season Belt changed hands

Baylor takes the belt, 41–9, on the road at UCF.

Home · Defending Holder

UCF 9

Away · New Holder

Baylor 41

Belt context

Where this game sits in the lineage

Baylor took the belt here, ending UCF’s run of 6 days and 0 defenses (reign #334) and starting reign #335. The reign is still going: 0 defenses and 1 days so far.

For Baylor this was its 15th shot at the belt; it had held the belt 7 times before — and it took it back here.

This is the only time Baylor and UCF have met with the belt on the line.

AI-Written

Recap

Baylor dominated UCF from start to finish to claim the College Football Belt with a commanding 41-9 victory in Orlando. The Bears struck early when D. Lagway connected with T. Livingston for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and the offensive onslaught accelerated in the second quarter with two more TDs and three field goals to build a 26-3 halftime lead. UCF's offense sputtered throughout, managing only two field goals by halftime, and Baylor's elite efficiency continued in the third quarter with two more Lagway touchdown passes—one to Livingston on a 21-yard strike and another to G. Freeman on an impressive 77-yard bomb that effectively sealed the contest. The Bears added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter when Lagway hit M. Klopfenstein in the end zone, while UCF's late-game heroics, including a 56-yard rush by R. Marriott to reach the Baylor 1-yard line, came far too late to matter.

D. Lagway TD pass to T. Livingston (Q1, 4:06) - Baylor's first score set the early tone
Baylor's 26-3 halftime lead - two TDs and three FGs in Q2 showed complete offensive dominance
77-yard TD pass Lagway to G. Freeman (Q3, 8:29) - effectively ended the contest as a competitive game
K. Jenkins interception by D. Jordan (Q1, 7:14) - UCF's early offensive struggles continued with turnovers

Written by Claude from the box score and play-by-play on this page — a plain-English recap of the numbers below, not a substitute for them.

By Quarter

Line score

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
UCF	0	6	3	0	9
Baylor	7	13	14	7	41

Pulled directly from CFBD’s play-by-play record, the same source as every score in the lineage.

Full Box Score

Team stats

CFBD box score

UCFBaylor

Total yards281503

Rushing yards66184

Passing yards215319

First downs1419

3rd down conv.2/147/16

Turnovers20

Penalties–yards6–4112–85

Time of possession30:5229:08

Full team box score from CFBD’s /games/teams data. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have team-level stats that far back.

Play By Play

Key plays

CFBD play-by-play

When	Team	Yards	Play
Q1 10:16	Baylor	+21 yd	(10:24) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete short middle to #3 J.Porter caught at UCF41, for 21 yards to the UCF32 (#24 T.Curtis; #18 C.Flagg), 1ST DOWN
Q1 7:14	UCF	+12 yd	(07:27) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 K.Jenkins pass intercepted by #7 D.Jordan at UCF43 #7 D.Jordan return 12 yards to the UCF31 (#18 C.Piening; #78 P.Cushman) PENALTY Baylor UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (#91 T.Mitchell) 15 yards from UCF31 to UCF46
Q1 4:06	Baylor	+4 yd	(04:12) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete short middle to #10 T.Livingston caught at UCF00, for 4 yards to the UCF00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:06 #98 R.Armstrong kick attempt good (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub)
Q1 4:01	Baylor	+25 yd	(04:06) #96 R.Sullivan kickoff 63 yards to the UCF02 #5 J.Derry return 25 yards to the UCF27 (#17 T.Turner)
Q2 11:08	Baylor	+36 yd	(11:19) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete deep right to #1 D.Miller caught at UCF13, for 36 yards to the UCF16 (#21 T.Bartrum), 1ST DOWN
Q2 8:58	Baylor	+2 yd	(09:01) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Knighten rush middle for 2 yards gain to the UCF00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:58 #98 R.Armstrong kick attempt good (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub)
Q2 3:24	UCF	+39 yd	(03:27) #15 W.Stone field goal attempt from 39 yards GOOD (H: #49 A.Bertrams, LS: #37 R.Kelley), clock 03:24
Q2 1:44	Baylor	+45 yd	(01:48) #98 R.Armstrong field goal attempt from 45 yards GOOD (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub), clock 01:44
Q2 3:06	Baylor	+53 yd	(03:17) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete short left to #3 J.Porter caught at Baylor32, for 53 yards to the UCF32 (#24 T.Curtis), 1ST DOWN
Q2 0:28	Baylor	+29 yd	(00:28) #98 R.Armstrong field goal attempt from 29 yards GOOD (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub), clock 00:28
Q2 1:14	Baylor	+29 yd	(01:20) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete deep right to #15 J.McGowan caught at UCF30, for 29 yards to the UCF26 (#21 T.Bartrum), 1ST DOWN, PENALTY UCF Roughing The Passer 13 yards from UCF26 to UCF13, 1ST DOWN
Q2 0:03	UCF	+57 yd	(00:03) #15 W.Stone field goal attempt from 57 yards GOOD (H: #49 A.Bertrams, LS: #37 R.Kelley), clock 00:00
Q2 0:00	UCF	-26 yd	End of 2nd quarter.
Q3 10:31	Baylor	+26 yd	(10:35) No Huddle-Shotgun #25 R.Morris rush left for 26 yards gain to the UCF21 (#4 B.Marshall), 1ST DOWN
Q3 10:07	Baylor	+21 yd	(10:06) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete deep left to #10 T.Livingston caught at UCF00, for 21 yards to the UCF00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:07, 1ST DOWN #98 R.Armstrong kick attempt good (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub)
Q3 8:29	Baylor	+77 yd	(08:41) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete deep middle to #6 G.Freeman caught at Baylor44, for 77 yards to the UCF00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:29, 1ST DOWN #98 R.Armstrong kick attempt good (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub)
Q3 6:24	UCF	+35 yd	(06:27) #15 W.Stone field goal attempt from 35 yards GOOD (H: #49 A.Bertrams, LS: #37 R.Kelley), clock 06:24
Q3 8:15	UCF	+67 yd	(08:26) No Huddle-Shotgun #14 A.Barnett III pass complete short middle to #5 J.Derry caught at UCF40, for 67 yards to the Baylor08 (#25 L.Thornton Jr.), 1ST DOWN
Q3 0:14	Baylor	+50 yd	(00:24) #98 R.Armstrong field goal attempt from 50 yards NO GOOD (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub), clock 00:14
Q4 14:02	Baylor	+26 yd	(14:05) No Huddle-Shotgun #25 R.Morris rush right for 26 yards gain to the UCF09 (#7 A.Jackson), 1ST DOWN
Q4 12:33	Baylor	+5 yd	(12:33) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 D.Lagway pass complete short right to #85 M.Klopfenstein caught at UCF00, for 5 yards to the UCF00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 12:33 PENALTY UCF Holding declined #98 R.Armstrong kick attempt good (H: #94 P.Williams, LS: #93 D.Schaub)
Q4 5:36	UCF	+25 yd	(05:56) No Huddle-Shotgun #14 A.Barnett III pass complete deep right to #9 W.Charles caught at Baylor15, for 25 yards to the Baylor14 (#25 L.Thornton Jr.), 1ST DOWN
Q4 0:52	UCF	+56 yd	(01:04) No Huddle-Shotgun #8 R.Marriott rush middle for 56 yards gain to the Baylor01 (#29 J.Davis), 1ST DOWN

Scoring plays, turnovers, and gains of 20+ yards, pulled from CFBD’s play-by-play. This section only appears for belt games with play-by-play on file (2003 onward).

Box Score

Player stats

CFBD player stats

Passing

UCF

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Alonza Barnett	8/16	133	8.3	0	0
Keyone Jenkins	14/21	82	3.9	0	1

Baylor

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
D.J. Lagway	16/25	319	12.8	4	0

Rushing

UCF

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Rocco Marriott	2	50	25.0	56
Landen Chambers	7	24	3.4	8
Duke Watson	7	20	2.9	6
Joshua Derry	1	8	8.0	8
Duane Thomas Jr.	1	2	2.0	2
Agyeman Addae	2	0	0.0	0
Keyone Jenkins	4	-15	-3.8	0
Alonza Barnett	6	-23	-3.8	1

Baylor

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Ryelan Morris	11	82	7.5	0	26
Michael Turner	12	41	3.4	0	10
Caden Knighten	7	31	4.4	1	15
D.J. Lagway	11	23	2.1	0	10
Dawson Pendergrass	1	7	7.0	0	7

Receiving

UCF

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	LONG
Joshua Derry	3	70	23.3	67
Waden Charles	5	45	9.0	25
Tyren Hornes	6	34	5.7	15
Duane Thomas Jr.	4	28	7.0	9
Caden Piening	2	24	12.0	19
Dylan Wade	1	11	11.0	11
Duke Watson	1	3	3.0	3

Baylor

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Gavin Freeman	5	114	22.8	1	77
Jadon Porter	2	74	37.0	0	53
Drelon Miller	2	44	22.0	0	36
Jayden McGowan	1	29	29.0	0	29
Tony Livingston	2	25	12.5	2	21
DeBraun Hampton	1	14	14.0	0	14
Taz Williams Jr.	2	14	7.0	0	10
Matthew Klopfenstein	1	5	5.0	1	5

Show more stats (7 more categories)

Defense

UCF

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HUR
Jahleel Culbreath	9	8	1	1	0	1
Ty Bartrum	9	5	0	0	0	0
Horace Lockett	8	3	1	1	0	1
Antoine Jackson	6	5	0	0	0	0
Tackett Curtis	6	3	1	1	0	1
Cole Kozlowski	5	2	0	0	0	0
Kahmel Johnson	4	2	0	0	1	0
Jayden McDonald	4	1	0	0.5	0	0
Jeffson Lafontant	4	1	0	0.5	0	1
Jayden Williams	3	1	0	0	0	0
Caleb Flagg	3	1	0	0	0	0
Isaiah Nixon	2	2	0	0	0	0
Jayden Bellamy	2	1	0	0	1	0
Braeden Marshall	2	1	0	0	0	0
Jailen Duffie	1	1	0	0	1	0
Thomas Collins	1	1	0	0	0	0
Trenton Turner	1	1	0	0	0	0
Preston Cushman	1	0	0	0	0	0
Ken Talley	1	0	0	0	0	0
Caden Piening	1	0	0	0	0	0
Matt Irwin	1	0	0	0	0	0
Matthew Occhipinti	1	0	0	0	0	0

Baylor

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HUR
Micah Gifford	6	5	0	0	0	0
Travion Barnes	6	4	0	1	0	0
Levar Thornton Jr.	5	3	0	0	2	0
Kedrick Walker	4	2	0	0	0	1
Daniel Cobbs	4	0	0.5	1	0	0
Devin Turner	3	3	1	1	1	0
Hosea Wheeler	3	3	0	0	0	0
Kaleb Burns	3	2	1.5	1.5	0	0
Zavion Hardy	3	2	0	0.5	0	0
Ryan Davis	3	1	0.5	1.5	0	1
Bo Onu	3	0	0.5	1	0	0
Traevon Mitchell	2	2	1	1	0	0
Devon Jordan	2	2	0	0	0	0
Jordan Davis	2	2	0	0	0	0
Stilton McKelvey	2	2	0	0	1	0
Jamaal Whyce	2	1	1.5	1.5	0	0
Tyler Turner	2	1	0	0	0	0
Garrick Ponder	2	1	0	1.5	0	0
Reggie Bush	1	1	0	0	0	0
Jae'Lin Battle	1	1	0	0	1	0
Kaleb Arterberry	1	1	0	0	0	0
Colby McCalister	1	0	0	0	0	0
Trent Thomas	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jordan Mack	1	0	0.5	0.5	0	0
Anthony Crenshaw	0	0	0	0	1	0

Fumbles

UCF

Player	FUM	LOST	REC
Rocco Marriott	1	1	0

Baylor

No recorded stats in this category.

Interceptions

UCF

No recorded stats in this category.

Baylor

Player	INT	YDS	TD
Devon Jordan	1	12	0

Kick Returns

UCF

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Joshua Derry	2	44	22.0	25	0

Baylor

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Jayden McGowan	2	27	13.5	17	0

Kicking

UCF

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Will Stone	3/3	100.0	57	0/0	9

Baylor

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Rhett Armstrong	2/3	66.7	45	5/5	11

Punt Returns

UCF

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Antoine Jackson	1	0	0.0	0	0

Baylor

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Gavin Freeman	2	17	8.5	10	0

Punting

UCF

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Atticus Bertrams	7	311	44.4	0	0	57

Baylor

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Palmer Williams	5	207	41.4	0	1	50

Full player stats from CFBD’s /games/players data, split out by team. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have player-level stats that far back. Linked player names go to that player’s stat line in every other belt game they’ve appeared in.

Sources Box score at ESPN · Game record: College Football Data (id 401856844) · This game in the downloadable dataset

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