Baylor’s run defense has a long way to go, and the 2026 schedule is lined up to punish any repeat of last year’s problems. The Bears finished 122nd against the run, and that kind of weakness tends to get exposed fast when the calendar turns against a tougher slate.
The first name that jumps out is Auburn’s Cobb. Baylor will face the team that Bryson Washington transferred to, which adds a little extra intrigue, but Cobb is the back to watch.
He posted multiple 100-yard games and finished with 969 yards on 175 carries. Against Baylor last year, he ran for 74 yards and a touchdown, and his production has taken a major leap since then.
With a mostly new defense in place, he looks like a candidate to make life miserable in Week 1, and Auburn has a former Bear backing him up, so the Tigers should have no hesitation testing Baylor on the ground early.
BYU brings another heavyweight in LJ Martin. A multi-time Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Martin was central to BYU’s offense last season and piled up more than 1,305 yards with 12 touchdowns.
Now heading into his senior year, he’s expected to deliver something close to that again, if not more. BYU came close to the playoff last year and has plenty to prove, and Martin could be a major part of that push when the Bears come calling.
Then there’s Texas Tech’s Cameron Dickey, one of the best returning backs in the country. He ran for more than 1,100 yards and scored 14 touchdowns last season, and he enters his junior year as a top 25-yard rusher with real national recognition.
Baylor gets the Red Raiders in an important Week 11 home game, and Dickey gives that offense a chance to take over if the Bears can’t slow him down. If he gets rolling, Texas Tech can put points up in a hurry.
Houston also has a back who could cause problems late in the year. Senior transfer Makhi Hughes didn’t see much action for Oregon last season, but his two years at Tulane were productive, with 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024.
He’s expected to step in as an instant starter for the Cougars, and Baylor will see him in the season finale on November 28. Hughes has the look of a player who could break out and become a major threat for Big 12 defenses.
In Other News...
Baylor Suddenly Has A Real Caden Powell Decision Looming
Caden Powells Baylor future just got a lot more interesting, and not just because of what he did on the floor last season. The forward stepped into a bigger role after Juslin Bodo Bodo went down with a forearm injury, and he made the most of the opportunity, giving the Bears steady production and a physical presence when they needed it.
Now Baylor has to fold Powell into a much bigger conversation about what the roster could look like in 2026-27. An NCAA eligibility change tied to age-based rules has opened the door for another season, which means the Bears have to think about scholarship math, roster spots and revenue-sharing plans with one more moving part than they expected. [Read more 🡒]
Why Isaiah Robinson Suddenly Matters So Much For Baylor In 2026
Isaiah Robinson has been in Baylors program long enough to stop feeling like a pure projection and start looking like a real answer. The offensive lineman spent two seasons developing behind the scenes after arriving as a highly regarded recruit, and even without playing in the 2025 season, he has remained one of the more intriguing pieces on the roster because of his size, talent and the way the depth chart is setting up around him.
That matters now because Baylor is heading into 2026 with very little proven continuity up front, and Robinson is expected to be in the mix for a starting tackle job. Protecting the quarterback is going to be one of the defining tasks for the Bears next season, and with so few returning starters on the line, Robinsons long wait could finally turn into a major role. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Women's Golf Faces A New Road With Its 2026-27 Slate
Baylor womens golf has its 2026-27 slate set, and the itinerary looks built to keep the Bears moving. The schedule features 10 regular-season events across the country, opening in Charleston, South Carolina, and stretching from tournaments close to Waco to stops on both coasts, a mix that should give Jay Gobles team plenty of variety before championship season arrives.
Goble said he likes the balance of local and far-flung events because it will test the Bears in different climates and on different grasses, which is exactly the kind of preparation a program wants before the spring grind. The regular season will eventually give way to the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California, and along the way Baylor will have several chances to stay near home while still seeing enough of the national schedule to measure where it stands. [Read more 🡒]