Baylor got the result it wanted Saturday, but the performance still left a few things to chew on.
DJ Lagway led the Bears in their home matchup with Colorado, and while the offense never really hit top gear, Baylor still managed 23 points. The numbers tell the story: 221 yards through the air and 116 on the ground, enough to get past a Colorado offense that struggled badly enough to bench Julian Lewis after the first half.
Dawson Pendergrass was one of the biggest bright spots. He turned 16 carries into 85 yards and gave Baylor steady production on the ground.
Lagway, meanwhile, wasn’t sharp throughout, but he did make enough plays when the Bears needed them. That included a 33-yard touchdown connection with Jadon Porter, along with a handful of solid throws to Gavin Freeman, who led the wide receiver group.
Even with the win, Lagway’s day came with some uneven stretches. He was inconsistent and didn’t always show the best awareness in choosing when and where to throw the ball. Baylor found a way to finish, but the quarterback play still felt like a work in progress.
On the Pro Football Focus side, Baylor’s offensive grades were led by right tackle Cole Rhett at 74.7, followed by center Koltin Sieracki at 72.4 and tight end Hawkins Polley at 71.5. The rest of the top 10 included Ryelan Morris at 68.2, Pendergrass at 67.3, Caden Knighten at 66.4, Dre'lon Miller at 65.6, Logan Moore at 63.2, Cooper Lovelace at 63.1 and Porter at 62.8.
At the other end of the offensive grades, Matthew Klopfenstein finished at 47.7, with Tony Livingston at 53.0, Michael Turner at 53.2, Nate Kibble at 53.3 and Taz Williams Jr. at 53.6.
Defensively, Baylor had several strong grades as well. Garrick Ponder paced the unit with a 79.8, and Jordan Mack was right behind at 77.1.
Micah Gifford posted a 75.7, Kamren Washington a 75.5 and Daniel Cobbs a 75.3. Colby McCalister checked in at 74.4, Bo Onu at 73.4, Travion Barnes at 73.2, Kedrick Walker at 72.1 and Jackson Blackwell at 69.0.
The lower end of the defensive list included Tyler Turner and LeVar Thornton Jr. at 53.7, Kyler Jordan at 54.5, Hosea Wheeler at 57.6 and Ryan Davis at 58.1.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Palmer Williams Is Becoming A Weapon Baylor Can Actually Lean On
Palmer Williams has quietly turned into one of Baylors most dependable pieces, and his work against Colorado showed why the Bears are comfortable leaning on him in tight spots. The senior punter was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after booting seven punts for 353 yards, averaging 50.4 yards per kick while repeatedly flipping the field and pinning Colorado deep.
For Baylor, the award carries a little extra weight because it is the programs first weekly conference honor of the 2026 season. It also marks the second time Williams has earned that kind of recognition in his career, a sign that his value is becoming more than just hidden-yardage work. When a team can trust its punter to change the tone of a game, it tends to matter later in the season, and Williams is making himself hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]