Baylor opened Big 12 play with a 23-13 win over Colorado, but it was hardly the kind of performance that left the home crowd buzzing.
The Bears improved to 3-1 and stretched their winning streak to three games, yet the offense never really found its footing with DJ Lagway back under center. Lagway was clearly still dealing with the ankle injury he picked up in Week 1, and Baylor’s attack looked sluggish for much of the afternoon.
That left the defense to carry the load again, and the front four did plenty of the heavy lifting. Baylor’s defensive line repeatedly pressured Colorado, finishing with four sacks and a fumble recovery.
But the secondary was shaky at times, giving up multiple wide-open completions that turned into chunk gains. The Bears also had to weather an early push from Colorado’s run game before the pressure started to build.
Head coach Dave Aranda has been chasing what he called a "cleaner game" since Week 1, and this one didn’t deliver it. Baylor committed six offensive penalties, converted just 6 of 17 third downs, and Lagway finished below 50 percent passing. The game was still tied 13-13 late, a sign of just how much the offense was grinding instead of flowing.
Even when Baylor got production, it came in scattered bursts. Jayden McGowan gave the Bears a boost on punt returns, and Colorado’s own penalties helped keep drives alive. But the Bears’ offense still lagged behind Colorado in total passing production, with the Buffaloes outgaining Baylor through the air 221 yards to 20.
The run game never took off either. Baylor tried to get Dawson Pendergrass and Caden Knighten going on the outside, but the ground attack stayed stuck behind an inexperienced offensive line. For most of the day, the Bears were averaging just 2 yards a carry on 44+ attempts before Pendergrass finally found a little room in the fourth quarter.
Aranda said, "I think [Pendergrass] is going to show more when offensively we can play without committing a penalty," Aranda said. "Because now you're talking there's seven, eight, nine, ten play drives, where I think that's where Dawson shines the best."
Lagway’s day also included a costly interception late in the first half. Under pressure, he tried to force an off-balance throw to a covered receiver 40 yards downfield, and the ball was easily picked off by Colorado. It was a throw that gave the Buffaloes ideal field position and a chance to add points before halftime.
He didn’t look as confident as he did against Auburn, and he also stayed out of the run game, which put even more strain on an already struggling offensive line. When the pocket collapsed, the ball often came out late and underthrown. Baylor got the win, but the path to it was messy from start to finish.
In Other News...
Baylor Hit Leaves Colorado With One Big Early Big 12 Concern
DeAndre Moore Jr.s night ended in the kind of swing play that can linger well beyond one Saturday in September. The Colorado wide receiver was injured after a tackle from Baylor linebacker Travion Barnes, on a collision that included helmet-to-helmet contact, though officials did not throw a targeting flag. Moore was eventually ruled out at the start of the third quarter, a loss that immediately changed the feel of the matchup and left Colorado trying to adjust on the fly.
For the Buffaloes, the bigger worry is what it could mean as Big 12 play gets rolling. Depth at receiver is always under the microscope early in a season, and losing a player like Moore adds another layer of uncertainty to an offense trying to find its footing against league competition. Baylor will move on to the next snap, but Colorado is left with a concern that goes well beyond one hit. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Finally Got A Big 12 Win But One Debate Isnt Over
Baylor finally broke through in Big 12 play with a win over Colorado, and there was plenty to like about how it happened. The Bears got impact work from across the roster, with the defense piling up five sacks, 13 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while special teams added a spark through McGowans seven punt returns for 139 yards. Gavin Freeman also chipped in with six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, giving the offense a much-needed complement on a day when the game never felt like it belonged to just one phase.
DJ Lagways first home game added another layer to the conversation. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but his mobility looked limited after the ankle injury, which leaves Baylor with a decision to sort through even after the win. The result mattered most in the standings, but the bigger question now is how the Bears balance what they need from Lagway with what he can realistically provide as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Gets A Rare Shot To Impress A Quarterback In Waco
Colorado will get a chance to make its case in a setting it does not fully control when three-star quarterback recruit Cayden Dixon is expected to attend the Buffaloes game against Baylor as a Bears visitor in Waco. Dixon already has offers from both programs, and the matchup gives Colorado a live setting to keep building a relationship with a quarterback it would like to evaluate more closely.
Deion Sanders has repeatedly framed Colorados recruiting pitch around fit rather than rankings, and Dixons visit puts that approach under a brighter spotlight. Even with Baylor handling the itinerary, the Buffaloes still have an opportunity to leave an impression in person, which is exactly the sort of small but meaningful opening that can matter in a recruitment this early. [Read more 🡒]