Baylor’s win over ASU had a little bit of everything, but the Bears’ biggest edge came from the kind of performances that take over a game without ever feeling forced. DJ Lagway handled the spotlight, the defense kept swallowing up Sun Devil drives, and a few playmakers kept turning routine snaps into problems ASU never solved.
Lagway turned in a career night with four touchdown passes, and even though he wasn’t asked to do much with his legs, he still found the end zone on the ground. He finished with 306 passing yards and added a rushing touchdown on his only purposeful carry beyond the line of scrimmage.
There were a couple of overthrows mixed in, but the scoring throws landed exactly where Baylor needed them. Once the game was under control, he was done for the night.
True freshman Morris gave Baylor its first touchdown and did it in style, ripping off a 63-yard run that showed patience, vision, and burst all at once. He finished with 84 yards on nine carries and flashed a speed that stood out even on a roster full of athletes. With his touches still limited overall this season, it would not be a surprise to see him work his way into the offense more often.
The Bears also kept finding #3 in the right places at the right times. He came through on two touchdown catches and then delivered another big moment with a tiptoe grab that helped push Baylor into the red zone. Against ASU, he kept showing the kind of timing and body control that make him a reliable target when the field tightens.
And then there’s the defense, which keeps looking like the most consistent force Baylor has. The Bears finished with three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and six tackles for loss, while holding ASU under 100 rushing yards.
Travion Barnes, “Slug” Traveon Mitchell, and the rest of that group made life miserable all night. This unit has been a problem for every offense it has seen so far, and Saturday was no different.
Gavin Freeman also kept his name near the top of the list. He piled up seven catches for 115 yards and added another hurdle that matched the one he pulled off against Colorado last week. Freeman keeps finding extra yardage, whether the throw comes from DJ Lagway or Nate Bennett, and he’s become the kind of receiver who looks determined to squeeze out every yard that’s available.
In Other News...
ASU's Blowout Loss Exposed A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
A lopsided win over Arizona State gave Baylor exactly what it needed: momentum, confidence and a clearer sense that the offense is finally settling in. The Bears rolled to a 55-19 victory behind DJ Lagways career-high four touchdown passes, while the run game and offensive line both looked far more coordinated than they had earlier this season. The defense did its part, too, helping turn the afternoon into one of Baylors most complete performances of the year.
For a team that has spent stretches searching for consistency, the bigger takeaway may be how different this version looked from the one fans saw in September. Baylor has now won four straight, and the improvement up front was hard to miss against Arizona State. If the Bears can keep that balance going, the next few weeks could tell us a lot about whether this run is a true turnaround or just a hot stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Aranda Finally Had A Baylor Answer For The Critics
Baylors win over Arizona State offered a little bit of everything the Bears have been looking for under Dave Aranda, starting with an offense that finally looked capable of carrying the day. The 55-point outburst gave the program a jolt after plenty of outside criticism, and Aranda made clear afterward that hes more interested in how his team responds than in whether opponents are polite along the way.
Ryelan Morris gave that response some real punch. The freshmans 63-yard touchdown run changed the feel of the game and put a spotlight on the kind of burst Baylor has been waiting to see from its younger players. For a coach who has spent plenty of time answering questions, it was the sort of day that at least hinted at a cleaner, louder answer still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Heads Into TCU With Real Momentum After Another Statement Win
Baylor rolled into Mountain America Stadium and kept its surge going with a 55-19 rout of Arizona State, extending its winning streak to four games and sharpening the sense that this team has found its footing. DJ Lagway was central to it all, throwing four touchdown passes and adding another on the ground, while the Bears defense continued to do work on the other side of the ball by holding ASU to 20 points or less for the fifth straight game.
The result gives Baylor a real sense of momentum as it heads into the TCU matchup, where the stakes figure to rise quickly. Wins like this do more than pad a record, because they reinforce the kind of balance Baylor wants heading into a tougher stretch, with the offense producing in bursts and the defense setting a steady tone. [Read more 🡒]