Baylor walked away with a 36-19 win over LA Tech, and the scoreboard told one story. The tape told another, with a few players making the most of the day and a couple areas still begging for cleaner execution.
Nate Bennett delivered one of the better outcomes a backup quarterback can have while filling in as a starter. He got Baylor rolling right away with a 25-yard scramble for the Bears’ first touchdown of the afternoon, then settled in and played with control. His only real blemish came on a first-half fumble while being sacked, but even with that mistake he was 11 of 13 at halftime and looked steady throughout.
The passing game opened up as Bennett found Louis Brown IV and Jayden McGowan on deep balls, including two touchdowns to McGowan. By the end of the day, Bennett had gone 21 of 24 for 253 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus the rushing score.
McGowan was a big part of that burst. He was targeted twice and came down with both catches for 79 yards, and both of those receptions ended in the end zone. That kind of efficiency can change a game in a hurry.
Ryelan Morris made his presence felt late, even though the ball didn’t come his way often. The true freshman finished with just four carries, but those touches produced 55 yards. He showed the kind of burst that jumps off the screen, getting downhill fast and then bouncing outside when the lane was there.
Morris also handled the final two snaps of the game. He converted a 3rd-and-16 for a first down, then on the next play got shoved out of bounds just short of the goal line as time expired, officially sealing the Baylor win. It will be worth watching whether he gets a bigger role as the season goes on.
The defense kept doing what it has been doing. Baylor was disruptive again, with Bo Onu Jr forcing LA Tech quarterback Kukuk to fumble late in the fourth quarter and Travion Barnes helping knock Kukuk out of bounds to stop him on 4th and short. Micah Gifford led the team with seven total tackles, and the unit overall continued to make life difficult for the opposing offense.
Still, there was a rough spot late. With Devonte Tezino out for the season, the Bulldogs started finding some success straight up the middle, and that’s the kind of issue Baylor has to clean up fast. If opponents can keep pushing the run directly behind the center, it’s going to become a problem.
There was also some room for more from the ground game as a whole. Pendergrass brought energy and effort, but 16 carries for 46 yards won’t always be enough.
Baylor isn’t a one-back team, and the Bears still finished with 165 rushing yards, so the offense can run the ball. The question now is which back will separate himself from the pack.
In Other News...
Baylor's Quarterback Picture Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Nate Bennett gave Baylor exactly what it needed in a 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech, and he did it in just his second straight start. The quarterback was efficient from the jump, completing 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground, a performance that helped keep the Bears in control throughout the afternoon.
Baylor also got a defensive showing that should not get lost in the shuffle. The Bears held Louisiana Tech to 19 points and 362 total yards, a strong enough effort to make this the first time since 2019 that they have allowed fewer than 20 points through their first three games. With Bennett settling in and the defense stacking results, Baylors quarterback situation suddenly looks a whole lot more compelling. [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 🡒]