Baylor’s 44-3 win over Prairie View A&M in Week Two gave the Bears plenty to feel good about, but it also left a few clear pressure points heading into Louisiana Tech.
The biggest shift for Baylor this week is at quarterback. With DJ Lagway still recovering from his injury, Nate Bennett is set to start again, and there’s reason for the confidence level to keep climbing.
He’s already shaken off the first-game jitters, looked comfortable, and threw for just over 300 yards against Prairie View A&M. Even so, the margin for error gets smaller now.
Louisiana Tech showed last Saturday that it can create chaos, picking off LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt three times. Bennett also has to be sharper after throwing two interceptions against Prairie View A&M.
Up front, the offensive line remains a mixed bag. Pass protection is not the main concern here, but the run blocking still needs work.
Baylor wants to be able to run the ball and gain yards even when the defense knows what’s coming, and Coach Aranda has made it clear that the line is not there yet. The Bears did pile up more than 200 rushing yards against Prairie View A&M, but the level of competition changes from here on out.
Penalties are another area that has to tighten up fast. Asher Hale was flagged for four false starts and a holding penalty in the last game, and that kind of sloppiness is tough to survive against stronger opponents.
On the other side of the ball, Baylor’s defense has been the most reassuring part of the picture. This unit has looked strong through the early going, and it enters this matchup with a lot of confidence.
Louisiana Tech managed only 139 total yards against LSU, including minus-4 rushing yards, and Baylor should be able to make life difficult again. The Bears allowed just 110 total yards to Prairie View A&M, with 36 coming on the ground and 74 through the air.
If Louisiana Tech can’t get its rushing game moving, it’s going to have a hard time finding traction against this Baylor defense.
In Other News...
Baylor Win Brought A New QB Question Fans Didn't Expect
Baylors 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech gave the Bears plenty to like, especially on a night when backup quarterback Nate Bennett stepped in and made the offense look steady and productive. He threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, added a rushing score, and helped Baylor keep control while freshman Ryelan Morris supplied valuable late-game carries. The defense also did its part, forcing a fumble and coming up with a stop on fourth down when the Bulldogs tried to answer.
Still, the broader picture after the game is a little murkier than the final score suggested. Baylor is already dealing with the loss of Devonte Tezino, and the run defense remains an issue that needs work, which means the Bears have some real concerns to sort through even after a solid showing. Add in Bennetts performance, and the win leaves Baylor with a new quarterback question it probably did not expect to be asking this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor's Quarterback Picture Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Nate Bennett gave Baylor exactly what it needed in a 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech, and he did it in just his second straight start. The quarterback was efficient from the jump, completing 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground, a performance that helped keep the Bears in control throughout the afternoon.
Baylor also got a defensive showing that should not get lost in the shuffle. The Bears held Louisiana Tech to 19 points and 362 total yards, a strong enough effort to make this the first time since 2019 that they have allowed fewer than 20 points through their first three games. With Bennett settling in and the defense stacking results, Baylors quarterback situation suddenly looks a whole lot more compelling. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Exposed A Baylor Problem That Could Decide Two Games
Texas Techs recent showing against Houston offered a clear look at the kind of challenge Baylor is about to face in the Big XII, and it was the sort of game that can expose more than one weakness at once. For the Bears, the matchup problem is not just about one opponent or one scheme. It is about how well they handle a team that can create stress from multiple spots on the floor, while also staying sharp enough to avoid being dragged into a game that turns on matchups and reaction time.
Baylors own path now runs through both Texas Tech and Houston later in the season, with home and road meetings that will ask different questions each time. The Bears will need a clean plan for Techs multi-position threats, and they will also have to make life difficult for Houston quarterback Conner Weigman by keeping pressure on him throughout the night. Those are separate tests, but they point to the same issue Baylor has to solve if it wants to keep its conference hopes on track. [Read more 🡒]