Baylor’s offense found its rhythm in time to turn a shaky start into a comfortable finish, and the Bears did it in front of a home crowd that got to watch Joe Klanderman pick up his first home win as interim head coach.
After falling behind 10-0 early, Baylor answered with three touchdowns in the second quarter and carried a 21-17 lead into halftime. From there, the Bears kept the pressure on and never let Iowa State back in front, rolling to a 42-31 win that made them bowl-eligible at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12.
The Bears’ defense had to grind through a heavy workload on the ground, and Aiden Flora was the biggest problem on the field for Iowa State. He piled up 182 total yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown, the most rushing yards any opponent has managed against Baylor this season. Still, the Cyclones never found the kind of sustained push they needed to mount a comeback.
Baylor’s response started with a break. A muffed punt by Iowa State extended the Bears’ fourth drive, and Tony Livingston finished it with a one-handed catch for Baylor’s first touchdown of the game.
That cut the deficit to 10-7, and the Bears kept rolling from there, scoring touchdowns on their next three drives. One of those scores came on a 54-yard run by DJ Lagway, and once Baylor grabbed the lead, it held it the rest of the way.
Lagway was a nightmare for Iowa State to handle when he was healthy. He finished 16-for-28 for 229 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 119 yards on 13 carries and another score, including a 56-yard touchdown run. Baylor’s offense finished with 42 points despite running 17 fewer plays than Iowa State and losing the time-of-possession battle by more than six minutes.
The numbers told the story of a game Baylor controlled in its own way. The Bears had 63 total plays to Iowa State’s 80, rushed for 194 yards to the Cyclones’ 216, and committed just one penalty for 15 yards compared with Iowa State’s seven penalties for 70 yards. Baylor also averaged 6.7 yards per play, better than Iowa State’s 5.9.
Gavin Freeman continued to be a steady target, leading Baylor with six catches while finishing with 60 receiving yards. Palmer Williams also drew praise for his work punting, with his power and precision helping Baylor manage field position throughout the game.
Iowa State did score 31 points, the most Baylor has allowed this season, but the Bears kept answering and never cracked when the game tightened up. Baylor’s defense gave up yards, but it shut down the moments that mattered most.
Next up, Baylor heads to Provo, Utah, on Saturday, November 14, to face BYU. The Cougars are ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and just lost to No.
3 Utah, 28-20, in Week 10. Bear Bachmeier and BYU will present the toughest challenge Baylor has seen all season.
In Other News...
Joe Klanderman Just Raised The Stakes For Baylors Finish
Joe Klanderman has given Baylor a jolt at exactly the right moment, steering the program to back-to-back wins since taking over as interim head coach after Dave Arandas firing. The Bears are 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, and while the coaching change was abrupt, the on-field response has kept Baylor in the conversation for the conference title race.
The finish, though, is where things get interesting. Baylor still has three tough games left, and those results will shape not only the Bears postseason path but also the conversation around Klandermans future. What started as a temporary assignment is now drawing real attention, with the interim coachs candidacy for the permanent job beginning to surface as the stakes keep rising. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Looked Dangerous But One Concern Still Lingers
Baylors Homecoming win over Iowa State had plenty to like on the offensive side, with DJ Lagway making his mark as both a passer and runner in a 42-31 victory that showed how many different ways the Bears can move the ball. Production came from several position groups, and the overall balance gave the offense a more dangerous look than it has shown at times this season.
Still, the game also left one familiar concern hanging around. Baylors defense got to the quarterback with three sacks and finished with nine tackles for loss, but Iowa State was still able to lean on its rushing attack and stay in the game longer than the Bears would have preferred. Special teams did its part with clean extra points and solid punting, yet the defensive run-stopping issue remains the piece that could matter most as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Opens Big 12 Run With A Rematch That Could Set Tone
Baylors Big 12 tournament path begins with a familiar opponent and a chance to keep its strong season rolling in the postseason. The No. 8 Bears, seeded third after a 15-3-1 regular season, meet No. 25 Houston in the quarterfinals at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, where the stakes rise quickly in a bracket that leaves little room for error.
Houston arrives as the No. 6 seed at 11-4-4, making this a matchup that should test Baylor right away rather than ease it in. A victory would send the Bears into the semifinals against either Texas Tech or UCF, and for a team positioned near the top of the league race, the opener could go a long way toward shaping how this tournament run is remembered. [Read more 🡒]