UCF at Baylor

Where: McLane Stadium; Waco, Texas

When: Saturday, Noon

TV: ESPNU

Weather: 60 degrees with 35% chance of precipitation

Latest line: Baylor by 3.5 points

Coaches: Scott Frost is 23-10 at UCF, 39-41 overall; Dave Aranda is 35-34 at Baylor, 35-34 overall.

Quick slant: This is the third overall meeting between the two programs, with the series split at one game apiece. UCF defeated then-No. 6 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl 52-42 on Jan. 1, 2014, to earn the Knights’ first-ever New Year’s Six bowl win. Nearly a decade later, UCF would host Baylor in its first-ever Big 12 home game. The Bears would score 26 points in the fourth quarter to come away with a 35-34 come-from-behind win over the Knights on Sept. 30, 2023. … This is UCF’s first-ever visit to Baylor and McLane Stadium.

About UCF (4-3, 1-3 Big 12): UCF is coming off an open week after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 45-13 win over West Virginia on Oct. 18. The Knights started strong, jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and went on to put up a season-high 578 yards of offense. Quarterback Tayven Jackson threw two touchdowns and running back Jaden Nixon rushed for two touchdowns, including an 83-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

About Baylor (4-3, 2-2 Big 12): Baylor found itself behind by double-digits in the first half for the second straight game, this time trailing Cincinnati 24-0 before eventually losing 41-20 to the Bearcats last Saturday. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson scored three touchdowns, but managed a season-low 137 passing yards. The Bears allowed UC to rush for 265 yards in the win, the second-most yards allowed this season by the BU defense.

3 things to watch

1. Baylor is allowing more than 190 rushing yards per game, the second-most in the Big 12 this season. In its  loss to Cincinnati last week, the Bears allowed 265 yards on a season-high 50 carries and three touchdowns. In fact, the defense has allowed multiple rushing touchdowns in six of its eight games.

2. UCF recorded 8 sacks in its win over the Mountaineers, the most sacks for the Knights in a single game since Oct. 14, 2000, when they had 9 against Eastern Kentucky. Edge rushers Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly have 4 sacks and 3 sacks, respectively. Baylor, meanwhile, has only allowed 14 sacks this season.

3. Baylor ranks last in the Big 12 in turnover margin (-9) with the Bears giving up 16 takeaways so far this season, including a conference-worst nine fumbles lost. The 16 turnovers are the most by a BU team since surrendering 17 during the 2022 season.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

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