Baylor walked out of Week 1 with another loss to Auburn, but this one came with a very different feel than last year’s shootout. The Bears still came up short, yet the game offered a clearer picture of what this roster might actually become - and where the pressure points already are.
The biggest bright spot was DJ Lagway. In a nationally televised primetime game in ATL, he flashed the arm talent that made him a 5-star prep prospect, and he did it while working through limited mobility after the ankle injury.
Even with that restriction, Lagway kept attacking downfield, especially when the game tightened up. He delivered on throws like Gavin Freeman’s 4th-quarter 4th-down conversion and consistently found tight windows between the numbers.
He looked especially comfortable in the first half, when he got rolling in Jake Spavital’s system, and Baylor should come away from Game 1 encouraged by what a full 60 minutes of a healthy DJ Lagway could mean in the Big 12.
That makes the ending sting even more. Dave Aranda’s 2-point decision was the most questionable call he has made since taking over the Bears, especially with the way his defense and quarterback were playing.
Baylor’s reworked defense held Auburn to just 3.4 yards per carry and forced two turnovers, which makes the choice not to push the game to overtime even harder to justify. It was also a notable setback for a coach who is openly on the hot seat, and now has dropped both games in the home-and-home series with Auburn.
Lagway’s talent was obvious, but the early turnover issues were just as real. Before the injury ever became part of the story, he showed the same kind of volatility that defined his Florida tenure.
He led the SEC in turnovers last year, and his first two drives as a Bear both ended in giveaways. One of those came after his curious decision to try to hurdle on 3rd & 2 in enemy territory.
Baylor’s offensive line didn’t make things easier, leaving him in a muddy pocket throughout the night, and his first interception came when pressure from an A-gap linebacker blitz forced the throw into the hands of a dropping EDGE.
There’s no hiding the upside, but there’s also no pretending the processing is finished. Lagway still has room to grow in terms of football intelligence, and this year is going to look very different for Baylor at quarterback than the last two seasons with Sawyer Robertson.
If the offense had a mixed bag at quarterback, the defense looked like a different team entirely. After finishing last season with just 12 sacks and ranking among the worst units in FBS, Aranda went to the portal to rebuild the front, and the early returns were loud.
Jordan Mack and Hosea Wheeler controlled the interior and helped smother Auburn’s run game, while Killeen native Devonte Tezino came through with two of Baylor’s six sacks. On the back end, the Bears intercepted star portal transfer Byrum Brown three times.
That was a complete turnaround from the 300-plus rushing yards and 38 points Baylor gave up to Auburn a year ago. If that level of defensive play holds, the Bears can line up against anybody in the Big 12 and feel good about their chances.
The wide receivers also answered one of the biggest preseason questions. With no major portal splash and no preseason all-conference name at the position, Baylor needed someone to step forward for Lagway.
Instead, the whole group did. Oklahoma State transfer Gavin Freeman was the headline act, finishing as the best player on the field with a career-high 12 catches for 154 yards.
Redshirt senior Louis Brown IV added five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, while junior Jadon Porter continued the momentum he built all offseason and turned in five catches for 77 yards as a dependable option in the middle of the field.
Baylor’s skill talent consistently created separation against SEC cornerbacks, and if that starts turning into production after the catch, the ceiling on this offense rises fast.
In Other News...
Auburn Handed Baylor One Of The Weirdest Moments Of The Game
Alex Goleshs first game as Auburns head coach already had one of those moments that gets replayed and argued over long after the final whistle. In the third quarter, with the Tigers trying to settle into a new era under a coach hired after a successful run at South Florida, Auburn reached for a gadget play that immediately put everyone in the stadium on alert and left Baylor with a big break in the middle of a tight game.
The decision did not age well. What looked like a surprise answer to a field-position question instead became a fresh source of criticism, as fans and observers quickly questioned the timing and logic of the call in that spot. For Baylor, it was the kind of odd, sudden swing that can change the feel of a game without adding anything to the box score except another reminder that strange things tend to happen early in a season opener. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Volleyball Just Got An Early Test Fans Can't Ignore
No. 20 Baylor volleyball ran into an early measuring stick Friday at the Ferrell Center, where No. 17 Florida handed the Bears a straight-set defeat and left a notable mark on the home schedule. Baylor still had production at the net, with Ksenia Rakhmanchik leading the way with 12 kills and both Bailey Warren and Victoria Davis making meaningful contributions, but the match showed how quickly a ranked nonconference opponent can expose small gaps in rhythm and finish.
The loss also stood out because it was Baylors first home sweep loss since Sept. 18, 2024, a reminder that this kind of setback has been rare in Waco. The Bears will have little time to dwell on it, with the Ameritas Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska, next on the schedule and another chance to see how they respond against quality competition. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Womens Golf Gets An Early Test For A Proven Core
Baylor womens golf is wasting no time finding out where it stands. The Bears open their 2026-27 season at the Cougar Classic on Sept. 7-8 in Charleston, South Carolina, a familiar early checkpoint for teams trying to gauge form against a deep field. Head coach Jay Goble, entering his 16th season, sounds eager to get the new campaign rolling, especially with a schedule that should offer an immediate read on how the roster is coming together.
The good news for Baylor is that this is not a group starting from scratch. Five returning players will make up the core of the lineup, with senior Yurang Li again set to anchor the top of the order after a strong year. Charleston will give the Bears a clean first look at that proven nucleus, along with the kind of competition that can quickly show whether experience translates into another step forward. [Read more 🡒]