Baylor’s 3-1 start has come with a split-screen feel. The Bears have stacked three wins in a row, but the first month of the season has also shown exactly where this team still has rough edges.
The numbers say one thing. The eye test says another.
Baylor’s passing game sits at the top of the Big 12 by the stats, and the defense looks ordinary if you only glance at yardage. But after four weeks, the clearer picture is a team that has some real strengths and a few issues that could keep showing up if they don’t get cleaned up.
Start with the offensive line, because that’s where a lot of Baylor’s problems begin. The unit was rebuilt in the offseason and has already dealt with injuries in 2026, and the inexperience has been obvious. The pocket has been breaking down too fast, and that has made life harder on the running game.
That matters because Dawson Pendergrass is at his best when he can build momentum over the course of a drive. Instead, too many Baylor possessions have stalled out and ended in punts before he can really get going.
When he does reach top speed, he’s not an easy tackle. And when Lagway gets time to throw, he can deliver some excellent passes.
The problem is that the line hasn’t consistently given either player enough room to settle in.
If Baylor has needed a stabilizer, special teams has provided one. Palmer Williams has been outstanding, averaging over 50 yards per punt and routinely pinning teams near the goal line. That kind of field-position edge changes games, even if it doesn’t always grab the headlines.
The recent game against Colorado brought even more from that phase of the game. Jayden McGowan brought back seven punts for 166 yards, and Rhett Armstrong matched the McLane Stadium record for the longest field goal at 54 yards. After his rough miss against Auburn, Armstrong has been almost perfect since.
That’s why special teams feels like one of Baylor’s safest areas right now. It may not sound flashy, but it’s the kind of unit that can keep a team from beating itself.
The other area that has improved sharply is defense, which is a major turnaround from where Baylor was a year ago. There was plenty of skepticism about whether Dave Aranda and new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman could put together a legitimate group after the Bears were one of the Big 12’s worst defenses last season.
So far, they have.
In 2025, Baylor’s defense finished with 12 sacks, two fumble recoveries and 392.1 yards allowed per game. Through four games this season, the Bears already have 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries and are giving up just 271 yards per game.
The opposition hasn’t exactly been elite, so the full picture still needs time to develop. Even so, the defense is clearly operating at a much higher level than it did in 2025.
Penalties remain another issue that has to be addressed. Aranda put it plainly: "Got to find a way to [play cleaner]," Aranda said.
"And I think practice is the closest thing you've got to games. And so I think you've got to hold guys accountable and practice in terms of penalties and put them in competitive spots."
That concern has shown up repeatedly during the Bears’ three-game homestand. If it’s a problem at home, it could become even more damaging on the road.
For now, Baylor has enough good to sit at 3-1. But the first month has also made it clear that the Bears are still trying to turn a solid start into something more complete.
In Other News...
Baylors Close Win Revealed Who Carried The Offense And Who Didnt
Baylors first in-conference test turned into the kind of game that forces a hard look at where the offense really came from, and who was asked to do too much. DJ Lagway led the way for the Bears in the home matchup, piling up 221 passing yards and 116 rushing yards while helping push the offense to 23 points. He also hit Jadon Porter on a 33-yard touchdown pass, one of the few plays that consistently gave Baylor breathing room.
The bigger picture for Baylor was less about style points than survival, even against a Colorado team that went to Julian Lewis after halftime. Dawson Pendergrass added 85 yards on 16 carries, giving the Bears a steadier ground presence, but the game still underscored how much the offense ran through Lagway. For a team trying to settle into conference play, the win answered one question and left another hanging about how sustainable that formula will be. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Debate DJ Lagway
Baylors quarterback picture has already become one of the more interesting storylines of the season, even before the Bears have had much time to settle it. DJ Lagway opened as the starter, then missed two games with a right ankle injury, and Nate Bennett stepped in and won both of those starts. That kind of fill-in success can change the way a fan base talks about a position, especially when the team has now seen two different answers under center.
Lagway is still expected to stay in the job once hes healthy, and his contract status is part of why the Bears are likely to keep leaning that way. Still, Bennetts brief run gave Baylor supporters a real alternative to compare against, which is exactly how quarterback debates start to take on a life of their own. The Bears may have an answer for now, but the conversation around it is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Has A Red-Zone Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Baylors trip into the red zone against Colorado looked productive on the surface, but the finish told a different story. The Bears got there five times and came away with three touchdowns, a drop-off that stood out as their lowest red-zone touchdown rate of the season and a reminder that moving the ball and cashing in are not always the same thing.
DJ Lagways return from injury added another layer to the conversation. The starting quarterback was back on the field, but his limited mobility was noticeable and he missed several open receivers, which affected how the offense was called. Dave Aranda said Lagways health shaped the game plan, and Baylor will be watching closely to see whether further rehabilitation can help him operate more freely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]