Baylor’s Homecoming matchup with Iowa State feels like a chance to reset the mood in Waco.
The Bears are 5-3, the Cyclones are 4-4, and Saturday at McLane Stadium carries real weight for a Baylor team trying to keep its Big 12 championship hopes alive. After the ugly TCU loss, fans are still carrying that sour taste, and there’s plenty of caution around interim head coach Joe Klanderman. A convincing win over Iowa State would go a long way toward changing the conversation.
Baylor has flashed enough on the road against UCF and Arizona State to show what this team can look like when it’s clicking. The issue has been putting that same product in front of the home crowd. That’s the challenge now, and the Bears have a clear path if they play to their identity.
The Cyclones’ two conference wins were both shootouts, 45-42 and 51-49. That’s where Baylor has to be disciplined.
The Bears need the kind of football that has defined them at their best: tight defense and efficient, surgical drives that end with points in the red zone. If this turns into a track meet, Iowa State will be right where it wants to be.
Much of that starts with Jaylen Raynor. The Arkansas State transfer has given the Cyclones an explosive element and likes to push the ball downfield. Baylor’s defense has seen this type of quarterback already, and the job is simple: keep Raynor contained and avoid turning the game into a toss-up.
There’s also a clear opening for Baylor to seize control early. Iowa State has scored 3, 10, 13 and 17 points in its four losses, which points to an offense that can bog down when forced to play from behind. The Bears don’t necessarily need to score on the opening drive, but building a multiple-score lead by halftime would put the Cyclones in a tough spot.
That kind of cushion would also let Baylor lean into the confidence it built last Friday. The Bears put up 41 points against UCF, with DJ Lagway throwing for 319 yards and four touchdowns in the Bounce House. Lagway’s two starts at McLane Stadium have produced just 29 combined points, and Iowa State’s defense gives him a chance to flip that script in front of the Homecoming crowd.
The Cyclones have already shown they can be vulnerable, giving up 42 to West Virginia and 49 to Oklahoma State. Baylor should see that and know there’s an opening. After sitting through the frustration of the TCU game, the home crowd is ready for something louder, cleaner and a lot more satisfying.
In Other News...
Baylor's Big Win Came With One Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Baylors 42-31 win over Iowa State gave the Bears a much-needed boost, moving them to 6-3 and adding another quality result to a season that has started to find its footing. DJ Lagway was the engine again, piling up 345 yards and multiple touchdowns as Baylor kept pace in a game that had plenty of offense and a few uneasy stretches along the way.
The concern, though, was hard to miss early on, when Iowa State found room to move and Aiden Flora piled up 182 rushing yards. Baylor did settle in and blank the Cyclones in the third quarter, but the uneven defensive start left a lingering question even after the final score turned in the Bears favor. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces A Real Home Test After Iowa States Breakthrough Win
Iowa States upset of No. 24 Oklahoma State gave the Cyclones a much-needed jolt in Week 9 and changed the feel around their stretch run. At 4-4, they are still chasing bowl eligibility, and the margin for error is thin with two more wins needed, including a road trip to face Baylor next.
For the Bears, that makes this more than just another Big 12 matchup. Baylor gets a team coming in with confidence after its first win over a ranked opponent this season, and the Cyclones will have plenty to play for as they try to keep their postseason hopes alive. The early read on this one points to a game with a lot of pressure on both sides, even if the final shape of it is still hard to pin down. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Had One Especially Encouraging Sign In This Blowout Win
Baylor opened the season 2-0 in emphatic fashion, rolling past Arkansas-Pine Bluff by 56 points and giving the Bears plenty to like beyond the final margin. The most encouraging development may have been the breakout from Isaac Williams IV, who delivered a career-high 26 points while also chipping in on the glass, in the playmaking column and on defense.
Isaac Williams was hardly the only Bear who left a mark. Dylan Mingo brought a strong defensive presence, UAB transfer Chatman added useful minutes, and the rotation got a look at Brett Decker and Elijah Williams even if the shooting was uneven at times. For Baylor, the blowout offered more than a comfortable win. It hinted at depth, versatility and a few early signs of who might be ready to carry more of the load as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]