Baylor’s men’s basketball schedule is starting to take shape, and the broadcast lineup is loaded. The Bears will open the season Monday, November 2 against Northwestern State at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+, and they’re slated to appear on a wide mix of national TV and streaming platforms throughout the year.
Before the opener, Baylor has two exhibition dates on the calendar. The Bears will face Florida on the 18th at 1:00 p.m., with the outlet still to be determined, then meet Illinois on the 23rd at 7 p.m. on B1G+.
Home court figures to be busy at Foster Pavilion. Baylor is scheduled for 17 home games, and nine of those will come against Big 12 opponents. The final non-conference home game is set for Tuesday, December 29, when the Bears host Mississippi Valley State at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
There’s also a heavy dose of ESPN platforms early in the year, including Baylor’s first game in Las Vegas against Alabama at 9 p.m. CT. That stretch also includes a second game against either Gonzaga or Kansas State and a third matchup with an opponent still to be determined.
The new calendar year begins with a home Big 12 matchup against Kansas State on January 2 at 11 a.m. on ESPN/2. Baylor’s first conference road trip comes a few days later, with a January 6 visit to Texas Tech on Peacock at 7 p.m.
A string of Big 12 home games will follow, featuring Houston on January 10 on ESPN/2, Oklahoma State on January 16 on ESPN2/U, Colorado on January 27 on CBSSN, UCF on February 6 on TNT, Cincinnati on February 9 on TNT, West Virginia on February 20 on ESPN2/U, Iowa State on February 23 on ESPN/2, and Kansas on March 6 on CBS.
On the road, Baylor’s conference slate includes Utah on January 30 on TNT, BYU on February 2 on FS1, Kansas on February 17 on Peacock, and Arizona on February 27 on CBS.
In all, Baylor will play 32 regular-season games, with 18 set for ESPN platforms. Ten of those will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, while eight more will land on ESPN+.
TNT and Peacock each have three games, CBS and FS1 have two apiece, and CBS Sports Network and truTV will each carry one. Two road games remain without assigned outlets: Washington on December 19 and Louisville on January 23.
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TCU Offense Faces A Brutal Test Against Surging Baylor
The matchup at McLane Stadium on Oct. 17 comes with a built-in contrast: TCU arrives trying to find answers after an uneven start, while Baylor has put itself in position to keep moving up in the Big 12 race. The Bears are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play, and the Horned Frogs are 2-3 with an 0-2 conference mark, making this feel like a game where one team is trying to steady its season and the other is trying to protect the momentum it has built.
For TCU, the concern has been turning offense into actual production against Power Four competition, while Baylors edge has come from a more complete performance on both sides of the ball. The Bears have been efficient enough to stay in control of games and difficult enough on defense to keep opponents from settling in, which is why this trip to Waco looks like a real test for TCU and a chance for Baylor to keep its conference run intact. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Has A Real Chance To Pull Away From TCU Again
Baylor comes out of its bye week with a little momentum and a chance to make a meaningful statement at home against TCU. The Bears are fresh off a strong win, and the timing is useful with a rivalry game waiting at McLane Stadium, where Baylors offense has shown enough balance to create problems if it can keep the pressure on. Lagways recent play gives this matchup an interesting edge, especially against a TCU defense that has generally held up against the run.
The Horned Frogs do bring resistance on defense, and they have enough athleticism to make this more than a simple home-field spot for Baylor. Still, the bigger question is whether the Bears can turn opportunities into real separation in a game that could hinge on field position and efficiency near the goal line. If Baylor handles the details cleanly, it has a real chance to widen the gap again in the Big 12 race. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces Its First Real Big 12 Test Against TCU
Baylor reaches a point in the schedule where the margin for error starts to shrink, and the matchup with TCU is the kind of game that helps sort out whether a strong opening can turn into something more lasting. Week 7 brings a slate of Big 12 games with real weight around the league, but this one stands out for the Bears because it is the first test that feels like it can say plenty about where they belong in the conference race.
TCU gives Baylor an opponent that can expose any soft spots while also offering a chance to make a statement in a crowded league picture. The Bears have handled the early part of Big 12 play well enough to get attention, but this is the game that begins to show whether they can keep that footing when the competition tightens and the path ahead gets less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]