11/2/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
Lagway threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns, while the defensive line notched a season-high seven sacks
IRVING, Texas — Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, while the Bears' defensive line earned Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors following Friday's 41-9 win at UCF.
The awards mark Baylor's fourth and fifth weekly Big 12 honors of the 2026 season, its most since winning seven in 2024.
Lagway turned in a standout performance against the Knights, tying his career high with four touchdown passes while completing 16 of 25 attempts for 319 yards. The junior connected with Tony Livingston twice, along with Matthew Klopfenstein and wide receiver Gavin Freeman, for scores. This Willis, Texas, native's 77-yard touchdown strike to Freeman was Baylor's longest play from scrimmage this season. Additionally, he rushed a career-high 11 times for 23 yards.
Lagway currently ranks 12th nationally in passing yards per game and has helped lead Baylor's passing offense to a top-20 national ranking.
The Baylor defensive line was equally dominant, recording a season-high seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss against UCF. The Bears' seven sacks marked another impressive performance from a unit that ranks second nationally in sacks and third in tackles for loss.
Kaleb Burns and Jamaal Whyce Jr. led the way with 1.5 sacks apiece, while Traevon Mitchell, Ryan Davis and Jordan Mack each added a sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Baylor also generated 19 pressures on UCF's 37 pass attempts, consistently disrupting the Knights' passing attack throughout the evening.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 HONORS
Michael Allen, S
Jason Witten Man of the Year Semifinalist
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Jason Witten Man of the Year Nominee
William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
Rhett Armstrong, K
Week 4 – Lou Groza Award Star of the Week
Travion Barnes, LB
Midseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Daniel Cobbs, S
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
Micah Gifford, S
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
DJ Lagway, QB
Week 8 — Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 5 – Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 5 – Davey O'Brien Award Great 8
Week 5 – Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week
Week 5 – Manning Award Star of the Week
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryelan Morris, RB
Week 5 – Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Midseason All-America Second Team (Sporting News)
Midseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Week 4 – Ray Guy Award Ray's 8
Week 4 – Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
Week 1 - Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
The awards mark Baylor's fourth and fifth weekly Big 12 honors of the 2026 season, its most since winning seven in 2024.
Lagway turned in a standout performance against the Knights, tying his career high with four touchdown passes while completing 16 of 25 attempts for 319 yards. The junior connected with Tony Livingston twice, along with Matthew Klopfenstein and wide receiver Gavin Freeman, for scores. This Willis, Texas, native's 77-yard touchdown strike to Freeman was Baylor's longest play from scrimmage this season. Additionally, he rushed a career-high 11 times for 23 yards.
Lagway currently ranks 12th nationally in passing yards per game and has helped lead Baylor's passing offense to a top-20 national ranking.
The Baylor defensive line was equally dominant, recording a season-high seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss against UCF. The Bears' seven sacks marked another impressive performance from a unit that ranks second nationally in sacks and third in tackles for loss.
Kaleb Burns and Jamaal Whyce Jr. led the way with 1.5 sacks apiece, while Traevon Mitchell, Ryan Davis and Jordan Mack each added a sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Baylor also generated 19 pressures on UCF's 37 pass attempts, consistently disrupting the Knights' passing attack throughout the evening.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 HONORS
Michael Allen, S
Jason Witten Man of the Year Semifinalist
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Jason Witten Man of the Year Nominee
William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
Rhett Armstrong, K
Week 4 – Lou Groza Award Star of the Week
Travion Barnes, LB
Midseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Daniel Cobbs, S
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
Micah Gifford, S
Midseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
DJ Lagway, QB
Week 8 — Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 5 – Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 5 – Davey O'Brien Award Great 8
Week 5 – Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week
Week 5 – Manning Award Star of the Week
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryelan Morris, RB
Week 5 – Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Midseason All-America Second Team (Sporting News)
Midseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Week 4 – Ray Guy Award Ray's 8
Week 4 – Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
Week 1 - Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
—Baylorbears.com—
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