Baylor heads into Saturday with a 6-3 record and a brutal finish waiting in front of it, starting with a trip to Provo, Utah, to face the 10th-ranked BYU Cougars. A win there would send a loud message around college football, and a few of the Bears’ most important trending areas will go a long way toward deciding whether that happens.
The biggest reason for optimism on Baylor’s side is DJ Lagway. He’s been on the rise lately and has given this offense a real spark over the last two games, throwing six touchdowns without an interception.
He’s also added another layer with his legs, piling up 142 rushing yards in that stretch. That kind of production matters even more this week, because BYU will be one of the toughest defenses Baylor has seen all season, and the road atmosphere in Provo only raises the degree of difficulty.
Lagway’s job is simple in theory and demanding in practice: protect the football. If he turns it over, Baylor could be in trouble fast. The best path for the Bears is to get him comfortable early with quick, easy completions and keep the crowd from becoming a factor.
The offensive line will be under the microscope too. BYU has been strong against the run, but its pass rush has not been nearly as dangerous.
That gives Baylor a chance, especially since the Bears’ protection has held up at times this season even when the ground game hasn’t offered much help. Still, the line has to clean things up on the road.
False starts and holding calls would be costly in a game like this, and Baylor can’t afford to hand BYU extra chances.
One of the most intriguing matchups is in the trenches on the other side of the ball: BYU’s pass protection against Baylor’s pass rush. BYU has one of the better pass-protection units in the country, and Baylor’s pressure package has been just as strong. That battle could decide the game.
For Baylor’s defense, the assignment starts with getting after BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Last week against Utah, Bachmeier threw four interceptions, and creating that kind of disruption again would give the Bears a real shot at getting stops and forcing turnovers. Joe Klanderman’s defense has a chance to make life difficult, but this will be a major test.
In Other News...
Baylors Coaching Search Just Got More Complicated At The Worst Time
Baylors coaching search is moving in the background at a moment when the on-field picture has become a lot more interesting. Under interim head coach Joe Klanderman, the Bears have won their last two games and stayed alive in the Big 12 Championship race, giving the program a jolt of momentum after Dave Aranda was fired. Even with the season still in front of them, the process is already taking shape, and it is beginning to look like a search with more layers than a simple interim-to-full-time handoff.
Reports say Baylor is expected to interview Robert Griffin III for the job, while Jeff Traylor and Zach Kittley are also among the names in the mix. Klanderman has made clear he would like the permanent role, but he is not actively pushing his case during the season, which leaves the Bears balancing competitive urgency with a decision that could define the programs next chapter. For a team still playing meaningful football, that kind of uncertainty can linger a little longer than anyone would prefer. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Coaching Search Just Turned Into A Debate Fans Will Feel
Baylors coaching search is moving into a familiar and potentially emotional direction, with the school expected to interview Robert Griffin III for its vacant head football coach job after firing Dave Aranda. Griffin is one of the most recognizable figures in program history, a former Bears quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, and his name alone gives the search an immediate jolt of nostalgia and intrigue.
The appeal is obvious, but so is the question mark. Griffin has no collegiate coaching experience, though he does work as a college football analyst and has coached a seven-on-seven team, which at least gives Baylor a chance to hear how he sees the job and the programs next step. The university is aiming to make a decision by late November, so the conversation around this hire figures to move quickly and carry plenty of weight with fans who remember what Griffin meant in green and gold. [Read more 🡒]
BYU-Baylor Suddenly Has A Game-Day Problem Fans Need To Watch
A nationwide grounding of flights has put Baylor in an awkward spot heading into its trip to Provo, Utah, for Saturdays game against BYU. The disruption has affected 10 Power Four teams and several Group of Six programs, and Baylors travel plans are now in question because the earliest possible departure could come Saturday morning.
If the Bears cannot get out as scheduled, the game could be pushed into a tricky corner on the calendar. BYUs agreement not to play on Sundays limits the options for a makeup date, and Baylor is not the only program dealing with the fallout, with Arizona State and UCF among the others caught in the same travel mess. [Read more 🡒]