Nate Bennett made the most of his second straight start and Baylor rode that performance to a 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium in Waco.
Bennett accounted for four touchdowns for the Bears, who finished their regular-season non-conference slate at 2-1. The junior from Westlake Village, Calif., completed 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and three scores while also adding a 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
That kind of efficiency stood out immediately. His 87.5 completion percentage was Baylor’s best since Robert Griffin III hit 90.5% of his throws in a win over Stephen F. Austin in 2011.
Louis Brown IV and Jayden McGowan were Bennett’s top targets on a day when Baylor spread the ball around. Brown caught two passes for 79 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown, while McGowan finished with two catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. It was McGowan’s second straight game with two scores.
Baylor’s offense finished with 418 total yards, including 253 through the air and 165 on the ground. Freshman Ryelan Morris led the rushing attack with 55 yards on just four carries, highlighted by a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter. Dawson Pendergrass added 46 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, Caden Knighten had 42 yards on 10 rushes, and Michael Turner ran eight times for 25 yards.
Gavin Freeman paced the receivers with seven catches for 47 yards. It was his third career Baylor game and third time leading the team in receptions. Taz Williams Jr. and Knighten each had two catches, while DeBraun Hampton, Tony Livingston, Hawkins Polley, Turner, Pendergrass and Morris also hauled in passes.
The Bears set the tone early by opening the game with a 75-yard drive capped by Bennett’s 25-yard scoring run. Louisiana Tech answered with a 15-play, 75-yard march of its own, finishing with an Andrew Burnette touchdown run from two yards out.
Baylor then seized control with another 75-yard drive, this one ending on Pendergrass’ one-yard touchdown run. Bennett helped jump-start that possession with a 28-yard throw to Brown. After a three-and-out by the defense, Bennett and Brown connected again, this time on a 51-yard touchdown that pushed the Bears ahead 20-7 with 10:38 left in the second quarter.
Baylor took a 216-124 edge in total offense into halftime. Bennett had already thrown for 149 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-13 passing by then.
The Bears kept the pressure on after the break. A fourth-down stop opened the second half, and Baylor followed with a pair of strong runs from Pendergrass before Bennett hit McGowan for a 43-yard touchdown and a 26-7 lead. Rhett Armstrong added a 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter to make it 29-7.
McGowan and Bennett closed out Baylor’s scoring with 4:10 remaining, connecting on a 36-yard completion that stretched the lead to 36-19.
Baylor’s defense did its part, too. The unit entered the game ranked in the top 30 nationally in total defense, sacks and tackles for loss, and it held Louisiana Tech to 362 yards of offense, including 139 on the ground. The 19 points allowed marked the first time since 2019 that the Bears opened a season by giving up fewer than 20 points in their first three games.
Safety Micah Gifford made his first career start and led the Bears with seven tackles, including a key stop on a fourth down. Bo Onu added five tackles, two for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
Colby McCalister, Travion Barnes, Tyler Turner and Kyland Reed each had five tackles, while Kyler Jordan posted a career-high four stops with one tackle for loss. Devon Jordan grabbed his second interception of the season through three games.
Baylor also recorded seven pass breakups, its most in a game since 2023, and added five quarterback hurries.
The Bears return next Saturday to host Colorado in the Big 12 opener at 11 a.m. on ESPN or ESPN2 and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Baylor Fans Can Celebrate One Trend While Worrying About Another
Baylors home opener at McLane Stadium gave the Bears a clean early-season result to build on, with a 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech that came with plenty to like on one side of the ball. Quarterback Bennett was sharp throughout, completing 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, giving Baylor the kind of efficient passing performance that can settle a team in September.
Still, the afternoon wasnt spotless, and the details on the other side of the ledger will matter as the Bears move forward. The defense managed only one sack, and the tight end group was not much of a factor in the game, leaving Baylor with a few areas to sort out even while the scoreboard provided a comfortable finish. [Read more 🡒]