Week 8 in the Big 12 is loaded, and Saturday’s slate stretches from Baylor’s noon kickoff all the way into the night. Baylor and Kansas get things started at 12:00 p.m. CT on TNT, but the rest of the conference stays busy around them, with multiple ranked teams in action and four games involving all five of Baylor’s remaining opponents.
The first one to keep an eye on comes an hour before the Bears kick off: Texas Tech against Cincinnati. The No.
8 Red Raiders are 6-0 and carry the kind of momentum that has them aiming to keep rolling through this weekend. Texas Tech will try to bottle up the Bearcats’ offense with its defense, while also pushing the pace on offense and getting on the board early and often.
Most sources have the Red Raiders as a multi-score favorite, and they should head home with another win.
Later in the day, Baylor’s next road test is already on the board. The Bears go to Orlando next Friday, October 30th, for a 6:30 p.m.
CT matchup on ESPN against UCF. That game brings a clear question into focus: how well can the UCF defense handle Bear Bachmeier and the No.
2 BYU offense? That’s the main thing to watch as Baylor looks ahead to its trip.
BYU is also back in the spotlight again this weekend. The Cougars travel to take on UCF, and they come in fresh off last week’s win over Notre Dame.
UCF, meanwhile, had last week off and will be trying to spring the upset on the undefeated Cougars. How BYU’s offense looks, and how its defense deals with UCF, should offer Baylor some useful clues before those teams meet next week.
Another Big 12 game tied into Baylor’s schedule comes on November 7th, when ISU visits Waco for Homecoming after the Bears play Kansas this week and UCF next week. Before that, Iowa State heads to Tucson to face the No.
25 Wildcats. Both Arizona and ISU are coming off bye weeks and will be looking to pick up another win, while the Wildcats get the home-field edge in a game that favors the hosts by more than a single score.
The biggest late matchup on Saturday sends the No. 14 Houston Cougars to No.
10 Utah for a 9:15 p.m. CT kickoff.
It’s a top-15 battle that should stretch close to midnight, and it also matters for Baylor later on, since Houston will be the Bears’ final opponent on November 28th when Baylor travels there. Utah, one of the Big 12’s three remaining unbeaten teams, faces what could be its toughest test yet.
Both squads bring physical play on offense and defense, and both will be trying to stack up as many conference wins as they can down the stretch. Utah looks like the favorite at home, but this one should be tight.
In Other News...
Baylors Offense Is Back Under Pressure Heading Into Kansas
Baylors offense had a rough afternoon against TCU, and the timing could not be worse with Kansas coming up next. The Bears did not reach the end zone and managed only 1.6 yards per carry, a stretch that raised fresh questions about the offensive line, the wide receivers and quarterback DJ Lagways accuracy as the unit searches for a cleaner rhythm.
Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital now have a short window to get things sorted out before the next kickoff. Baylor does not need a complete overhaul so much as a sharper, more dependable showing, but the pressure is real after a game that left too many parts of the offense looking out of sync. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor May Have A Maryland Opportunity Worth Watching Closely
A fresh coaching hire at Maryland could soon open a brief transfer window for the roster, and while no players have entered the portal yet, the situation is already worth tracking from Baylors side. The Bears have reason to pay attention because the setup could eventually create a chance to evaluate talent that fits what their staff values, even before any official movement starts.
Names like Malik Washington, Zion Elee and Darrell Carey are the ones being floated as potential Baylor matches, mostly because their skill sets line up with needs that could make sense for the Bears if they become available. For now, it is all contingent on Marylands next coach and the decisions that follow, but this is the kind of portal watch that can turn quickly once the hiring process is complete. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Heads To Kansas With Dave Aranda Under Real Pressure
The pressure around Dave Aranda has risen sharply after Baylors loss to TCU, turning the Bears next trip into much more than just another Big 12 game. At 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play, Baylor still has a workable path in the standings, but the margin for error has tightened enough that every result now feels like a referendum on where the program is headed.
Kansas arrives as the next measuring stick, and the stakes go beyond the standings with outside chatter already circling possible replacement ideas if Baylor chooses to go in a different direction. Boise States Spencer Danielson has been mentioned in that conversation, which only adds to the spotlight on Aranda as the Bears enter a stretch that could shape both this season and the bigger picture around the program. [Read more 🡒]