Baylor heads into its matchup with Kansas in a spot it can’t afford to waste. If the Bears want to keep their Big 12 Championship hopes alive, this is the kind of game that has to end with a win, and the matchup chart gives Baylor a real chance to clean things up after the loss to TCU.
The most obvious path for the Bears starts on the ground. Kansas sits last in the Big 12 in rushing defense, and that opens the door for Baylor to lean on the run early. Jake Spavital should have every reason to try to establish that part of the offense first, especially if doing so helps set up easier chances in the passing game later.
That matters because Baylor’s offense looked far more uncomfortable when the pocket started collapsing against TCU. Protecting DJ Lagway was an issue in that game, and while the Bears have reason to expect a better outing from him here, that improvement depends a lot on the line doing its part. Facing Kansas gives Baylor a cleaner chance to rebuild confidence in the trenches.
The Jayhawks also haven’t been much of a threat when it comes to getting after the quarterback. They rank near the bottom of the Big 12 in sacks, which is a major plus for a Baylor offensive line that took its lumps last Saturday. If Lagway gets more time to work, Baylor should have a better shot at getting the passing game moving.
There’s still some uncertainty there, though, because the Bears’ run blocking has been inconsistent all season. Even so, Baylor has seen enough from this group to believe it can hold up against a Kansas front and move the ball well enough to stay on schedule. The line’s performance against Arizona State showed there is at least some ceiling to work with.
On the other side of the ball, Baylor’s linebackers will have another big test. They turned in a strong showing against TCU, helping limit the Horned Frogs to 33 rushing yards, and Kyland Reed and Kaleb Burns each added a sack. That kind of effort will need to carry over, but Kansas presents a different problem than TCU did.
The Jayhawks are averaging more than 200 rushing yards per game, and Isaiah Marshall along with Dylan Edwards gives them a rushing duo that can be hard to contain. That makes Baylor’s second-level defense a key part of the game plan again.
For all the concerns raised by last week, this is still a matchup where Baylor can find some answers. The trenches favor the Bears in a few important spots, and if they take advantage of that edge, they have a real chance to get back on track.
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Baylor Just Added Another Defensive Piece Fans Will Want To Watch
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Venutos size and production have made him a name worth tracking well before he arrives on campus, and Baylor clearly saw enough to move aggressively for him in a crowded recruiting battle. For a program that has made a habit of looking for length and versatility up front, landing a player with his frame and high school rsum gives the Bears another piece to monitor as the 2027 class takes shape. [Read more 🡒]