DJ Lagway’s Baylor debut has hit an early snag, and the Bears may have to keep moving without their new quarterback this Saturday.
According to Pete Thamel, Baylor is “doubtful” Lagway will be available for the home game against Louisiana Tech after he suffered an ankle injury in Baylor’s 17-16 loss to Auburn in Atlanta. If he sits again, it would be his second straight missed game.
Nate Bennett is lined up to start once more. He already filled in last week and helped Baylor roll past Prairie View A&M, 44-3, at home. Bennett completed 314 yards, threw three touchdowns and two interceptions, while the Panthers were held to just 110 yards of total offense.
Lagway arrived in the Big 12 after leaving the SEC and came into the season carrying real buzz as a potential Heisman contender. He had thrown for 4,179 yards and 28 touchdowns over his first two college seasons at Florida, and his first Baylor showing was electric: 333 yards in Atlanta before the injury took hold.
The question now is less about panic and more about patience. Dave Aranda and the Bears have a quarterback who can handle the job in Bennett, and getting those reps early could matter later if Baylor has to navigate this again.
Still, Lagway’s setback is a frustrating turn after such a strong start, especially with the injury lingering only two weeks after the Auburn game. Aranda called it an “ankle sprain,” according to SicEm365.
Baylor enters the weekend as a 17.5-point favorite over Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs, led by quarterback Blake Baker, are coming off a 45-15 loss to LSU.
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For Baylor, the release is more than a calendar update because it offers the first real outline of how a loaded roster will be challenged before March arrives. The mix of conference trips, home dates and non-conference positioning should give the Bears no shortage of chances to prove they can handle the expectations that come with being one of the Big 12s most watched teams. The questions now are less about who Baylor has and more about how quickly that talent settles in once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]