Revivalry week is here, and Baylor is walking into it with some real momentum.
The Bears are favored to host TCU on Saturday, while the Horned Frogs have taken five of the last six meetings. That recent edge is part of the backdrop, but Baylor’s side of the conversation starts with confidence.
Micah Gifford made that plain: "We have to go out there and win," Micah Gifford said. "We haven't had the most success against TCU in my time here, and I feel like it's about time that changes."
For Baylor, the path to flipping that script starts with keeping this game on its own terms. These teams have a history of turning the rivalry into a track meet, but Baylor’s best version is more controlled than chaotic. The Bears want clean defense, steady offense and a game that unfolds over four quarters instead of one wild burst.
That matters even more because TCU’s offense has had trouble getting going. Baylor does not need to help the Horned Frogs find rhythm inside McLane.
A slower, lower-scoring game tilts toward the Bears, especially with TCU yet to allow more than 21 points in a game. Baylor can win it either way, but the safer road is the one that keeps the tempo down.
The offensive line sits at the center of it all. It has been one of Baylor’s shakier spots after an offseason overhaul, though the group put together its most complete outing against ASU. Saturday brings a bigger test.
"Might be the best D-line that we've played to this point," Aranda said. "They've got really twitchy guys in the interior that can really be disruptive. And it's going to be a challenge for our group."
That challenge makes the run game even more important. Baylor cannot afford to spend the first three quarters searching for answers on the ground. The backs need to get rolling early, not as a late rescue act.
The ground success in Arizona came off excellent blocking up front, which opened the door for explosive runs. Baylor will need something close to that again if it wants to keep TCU from dictating the flow.
And while the Horned Frogs are off to a 2-3 start and have stumbled badly enough to be trying to steady their 2026 campaign, Aranda still sees a dangerous roster. His breakdown covered nearly every layer of the TCU group: "They're a dangerous team," Aranda said.
"I think O-line-wise they're improved. I think quarterback is really close just to breaking out.
I think tight end is a big mismatch. I think the D-line makes it really hard to run against.
I think the safety group might be the best in our league. They're a talented team.
Yeah, they're just hunting for belief."
Baylor comes in on a four-game heater, while TCU is trying to recover after opening Big 12 play 0-2. That sets up a rivalry matchup with one team surging and the other searching. For the Bears, the assignment is simple: keep it controlled, get the run game going, and make sure the familiar trouble with TCU does not show up again.
In Other News...
TCU Comes Out Of The Bye Facing A Big 12 Gut Check
Baylor heads into its matchup with TCU in a familiar spot for this point in the season: riding momentum and trying to keep it going. The Bears are 4-1 and have piled up big margins in recent wins, a sign that the offense and defense have both been doing enough to separate early and settle games before they get uncomfortable. A week off gave Baylor time to reset, but it also put the focus squarely on what comes next against a conference opponent that has been searching for answers.
TCU arrives in Waco after back-to-back losses and with the benefit of its own bye week to regroup. The Horned Frogs are 2-3 and know this trip carries more weight than an ordinary midseason game, especially with both teams trying to make a statement in Big 12 play. Coaches and players on both sides have talked about preparation and the need to be ready, and the next step for Baylor is to see whether its early rhythm can hold up when the conference grind tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Should Be Watching Josh Cameron A Lot More Closely
A former Baylor walk-on kept turning up in meaningful moments for Jacksonvilles latest win, the kind of performance that makes alumni and Baylor fans take notice. Josh Cameron was involved on offense and on special teams, giving the Jaguars a useful spark while another former Bear, Terrel Bernard, logged seven tackles in Buffalos win and James Lynch chipped in during Chicagos victory over Green Bay.
Camerons night was especially notable because his impact went beyond a few routine touches, with his work on special teams helping tilt the finish in Jacksonvilles favor. For Baylor followers, it is another reminder that the Bears continue to have players making their mark around the league, even if the bigger question around a separate former Houston defender still hangs over the week as he works through an injury evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor In Position For A Huge Recruiting Boost Sooner Than Expected
Baylors recruiting momentum could get a jolt much sooner than expected, as the Bears have landed in the mix for one of the more sought-after young bigs in the country. Benjamin Berrouet, a highly ranked power forward in the 2028 class, has already drawn offers from at least 35 schools nationwide, and his reputation is built on a balance of defensive toughness and offensive skill that has made him a priority for programs across the country.
Berrouets next steps will be watched closely in Waco, especially with a trip to Baylor set for March 6 and other visits lined up to Kentucky, UCLA, Illinois and Rutgers. The bigger wrinkle is his openness to moving up a class, which could accelerate the timeline for whatever school eventually wins out and give that program a chance to get him on campus a year earlier than first expected. [Read more 🡒]