Baylor’s season opener against Auburn is already putting the Bears’ chemistry under the microscope, and linebacker Kyland Reed didn’t try to dodge that reality.
During player availability on September 1st, Reed said the group is still in the early stages of figuring itself out as a full unit. “We haven't been on the field together yet,” he said, adding that “paper is just paper,” before driving the point home with, “You can say anything on paper, but you've got to get on that field, you've got to play, you've got line up”
That uncertainty is part of the challenge Baylor is walking into. The Bears are opening against Auburn for the second straight season, and this year’s roster has a different look as Baylor tries to make noise in 2026. Last season ended in a loss to the Tigers, and now the first real test arrives for a team that has mostly not taken an official snap together as a complete group.
Reed was also asked about the possibility of lining up against former teammate Bryson Washington, who transferred to Auburn this offseason. Reed barely flinched.
“Nothing that I'm not ready for. Nothing that I'm not prepared for.” he said with a smirk.
Washington was a major part of Baylor’s ground game last season, working alongside then-freshmen Caden Knighten and Michael Turner while Dawson Pendergrass missed the entire 2025 season because of a preseason foot injury and subsequent surgery.
Reed also spoke warmly about his relationship with fellow linebacker and team leader Travion Barnes. He described it as a “good relationship” and said, “We talk in-football, outside of football.
We talk about family. We talk about everything.”
Reed added that, “To be beside each other, lead the brotherhood; it's going to be a special feeling.”
As one of Baylor’s captains, Reed said he wants to build on the leadership role he received at Big XII media days. For him, that means “being vocal when things don't go right,” along with “being able to speak up and to continue to keep the same mentality that [the team] all had this whole summer.”
He finished with the kind of line you’d expect from a captain trying to steady a new group: “Just staying positive and just being the best leader that I can be for this team.”
That tone fits the broader picture around Baylor right now. The players and coaches have talked all offseason about unity and camaraderie, and Reed’s comments matched that message. The Bears sound ready for the spotlight, and in a few short days they’ll get their chance at the Aflac Kickoff Game.
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Baylor Faces An Early Test That Could Define Its Opener With Auburn
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Dawson Pendergrass is part of that equation too, giving Baylor another name to watch as it tries to answer an early challenge from a physical Auburn team. The setup points to a game that could swing on a handful of plays rather than broad separation, which is exactly why this opener carries so much weight for the Bears. If Baylor can show real progress on defense and hold up in a close finish, it would say plenty about where this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]