Baylor got the kind of update every defense wants heading into a new week: Micah Gifford is not expected to miss time.
After leaving Saturday’s game against Colorado with what looked like a leg injury, the senior defensive back should be available when the Bears face Arizona State in Week 5, according to teammate Bo Onu.
"Oh, he's good. Micah's Good," Onu said Tuesday, before confirming that Gifford would suit up for Saturday's game.
That’s a relief for Baylor, because Gifford was in the middle of a strong outing before the scare. He finished with eight tackles and a tackle for loss, and Pro Football Focus credited him with the third-highest defensive grade on the team at 76.2.
His work against the run and in coverage stood out as well, with a 74.4 grade in run defense and a 73.5 mark in pass coverage. PFF also said he allowed just one catch for 1 yard and led the Bears with three “stops,” its measure for quality tackles.
Gifford’s exit came late in the second half, and Waco Tribune-Herald reporter Zach Smith later reported that he could not put weight on his left leg and needed help getting back to the locker room.
Even with Gifford sidelined for part of the game, Baylor handled the situation against Colorado and opened Big 12 Conference play with a win to move to 3-1 overall. Devin Turner and Tyler Turner filled in at that spot, with Devin Turner returning after missing the previous two games.
Still, Gifford’s presence matters beyond one Saturday. He enters Week 5 second on the team in tackles with 14, has one interception, and has been responsible for one of Baylor’s three forced fumbles this season in 2026. A longer absence would have been a problem for a secondary already missing senior Jacob Redding, who tore his ACL before the season and was viewed as one of the unit’s most dependable pieces.
It would also have come at a time when Baylor had just gotten Devin Turner back, making Gifford’s availability even more important for the Bears’ defense moving forward.
In Other News...
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Lincoln Rileys name has now entered the chatter as a possible replacement if Baylor ever moved on from Aranda, even though there is no official connection between the sides. The USC coach also comes with a major buyout hurdle, which is why analysts have treated the idea as more of a high-end what-if than a clear path forward, but it is still the kind of speculation that can tell you how restless a fan base is getting. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Just Turned Baylor's QB Problem Into A Bigger Big 12 Story
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Arizona State Brings A Tougher Test Than Baylor May Expect
Baylor heads to Tempe for its first road game in nearly a month, and the trip arrives with more questions than the schedule might suggest. The Bears have spent the last stretch at home while trying to settle in offensively, and the matchup with Arizona State comes at a time when every detail around execution matters. ASU has had extra time to prepare after its bye week, following a London trip, which only adds to the sense that this is not the kind of away test Baylor can treat lightly.
The betting lines suggest a competitive game, but the broader concern for Baylor is whether its offense can find enough rhythm to handle a more demanding environment. Player health is part of the conversation too, with DJ Lagways condition drawing attention as the Bears sort through what they can trust from week to week. Arizona State may not get the same national buzz as some opponents, but the setup points to a tighter, more revealing matchup than Baylor might have expected when the game was first circled. [Read more 🡒]