The Baylor NFL watch had one clear headline in Weeks 7 and 8: James Lynch finally got his first interception.
Lynch and the Chicago Bears were off in Week 7, then came back rested for Monday Night Football in Seattle in Week 8. That fresh start paid off in a big way when Lynch picked off a pass in the fourth quarter. It was the first interception of his NFL career, and the first pick he’s ever recorded at any level, including his Baylor days.
Terrel Bernard also used the Week 7 bye to reset. After the Buffalo Bills sat out that week, Bernard turned in his best outing of the season in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, finishing with six tackles and a big hit on the Ravens quarterback. Buffalo will be counting on that kind of production as it pushes toward the Super Bowl in February.
Josh Cameron’s role with the Jaguars has cooled some after a stronger stretch. Jacksonville did not play in Week 7, and in Week 8 Cameron was targeted once and did not catch a pass in the 42-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Even so, he stayed involved on special teams, handling both a kick return and a punt return.
Jalen Pitre was sidelined in Week 7, and the Houston Texans’ bye in Week 8 meant Baylor fans still didn’t get to see him back on the field. His shoulder injury appears to be more serious than first thought, and it’s unclear whether he’ll be available in Week 9 against the 0-7 Los Angeles Chargers in what is being called a must-win game.
Tyquan Thornton is still on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Injured Reserve list and is hoping to make it back at the start of the playoffs if possible. He remains in good spirits, and if he gets that chance, he would be a major boost to Kansas City’s receiver group.
In Other News...
Baylor Exposed Problems At UCF That Just Got Even Worse
Baylors 41-9 win at UCF did more than hand the Knights a lopsided loss. It also put a spotlight on problems that were already simmering, from an offense that never found the end zone for the first time this season to a defense that gave up a season-high 503 yards. Scott Frost and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch both pointed to the same broad issues afterward, with the offensive line struggling to hold up and the defense dealing with communication breakdowns that Baylor was able to exploit.
The concern for UCF has only deepened with the injury news that followed. Owen Spell and RJ Jackson Jr. are both done for the season, leaving the Knights to sort through a difficult stretch with fewer answers and less margin for error. For a team already trying to clean up execution on both sides of the ball, the Baylor game looked less like an outlier than a warning sign. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors New-Look Roster Gave Fans An Encouraging First Glimpse
Baylors new-look mens basketball roster gave fans an encouraging first glimpse in the 2026-27 season opener, an 87-65 win over Northwestern State that never really felt in doubt. The Bears led from start to finish, built an 18-point cushion by halftime and kept the Demons at arms length the rest of the way, never allowing the margin to shrink below 15 in the second half.
What stood out beyond the final score was how quickly the rotation started to take shape. Four Baylor players finished in double figures, and 10 players made their Baylor debuts in the game, a reminder of just how much turnover this team is managing as it begins a new season. For a group trying to establish identity early, the opener offered a useful first step, even if the bigger tests are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Suddenly Has Real Momentum With A Bigger Test Now Ahead
Baylors most convincing performance of the season came at just the right time, with the Bears rolling past UCF 41-9 under interim head coach Joe Klanderman. The win pushed Baylor to 5-3 and put the program within one victory of bowl eligibility, a useful marker for a team that has spent much of the fall trying to steady itself and find some traction.
Even with the surge, Baylor is still outside the Associated Press Top 25, though the Bears have climbed in both The Athletic and CBS Sports rankings. The next step is a tougher one, with Iowa State coming to Waco for homecoming and offering a chance to show the recent momentum is more than a one-game spike. [Read more 🡒]