Baylor had chances, but the same old problem showed up again: the offense never gave the Bears enough to hold up their end of the bargain.
That made a blocked potential game-winning field goal sting even more, but the bigger issue was what came before it. For the second straight week, Baylor lost a game it was supposed to win, and the way this one unfolded only sharpened the concern that the losses could keep stacking up.
There were bright spots, just not enough of them to change the outcome. Gavin Freeman was once again the most reliable piece on offense, hauling in a team-high 9 catches for 123 yards. He kept finding ways to produce even as defenses kept keying on him.
Jayden McGowan also flashed, especially on special teams, where he delivered several strong kickoff returns. He added a touchdown catch that looked like it could swing the game in Baylor’s favor and give the Bears control.
Palmer Williams did his part, too. The punter turned in another strong day, booting four punts for a 45.5-yard average and a long of 51. Until further notice, he remains one of the Bears’ steadiest weapons.
The defense had its moments and then some. Devon Jordan returned an interception for a touchdown, Micah Gifford picked off a pass, and Kyland Reed, Traevon "Slug" Mitchell, Garrick Ponder and the rest of the unit piled up five more sacks and seven more tackles for loss. Still, it wasn’t enough to cover for an offense that couldn’t keep pace.
For the first time this season, an opponent topped 20 points against Baylor. It also marked the third time this year the Bears’ offense couldn’t answer when the clock hit zero.
The line of scrimmage told a rough story, too. Baylor’s offensive front could not generate much push, and despite keeping Lagway upright for most of the day - he was sacked only twice - the Bears managed just 122 rushing yards against a Kansas defense that had given up more than 350 rushing yards to KSU the week before.
Lagway’s numbers reflected the struggle. He finished 20-of-31 for 236 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also led Baylor in rushing with 11 carries for 47 yards, despite showing a willingness to run the ball for the first time all season while dealing with an ankle injury for much of it.
At this point, the pressure lands squarely on Coach Aranda. OC Jake Spavital may be handling the play-calling, but Aranda still has the authority to force change. The offensive line deserves blame, and so does the scheme, but the head coach is the one who will be answering for the results.
The patience is running thin. Baylor needs a real turnaround, and soon, or the noise around the season - and around Aranda’s future - is only going to get louder.
In Other News...
Baylors Kansas Loss Just Raised Bigger Questions Than One Game
A 14-game winning streak over Kansas finally came to an end in the most frustrating way possible, with Baylor leaving the field after a last-second blocked field goal. For a program that has treated this matchup as one of its most dependable advantages, the loss landed as more than just a blemish on the schedule. The bigger concern was how uneven the performance looked from start to finish, with the offense laboring to reach 17 points and the defense giving up a season-high 25.
For Dave Aranda, the result only adds to the scrutiny that has followed a disappointing stretch for the Bears. There is already speculation that the game could wind up being the final chapter of his seven-season run in Waco, and this one did little to quiet that conversation. When a streak ends, it usually prompts a reset in perspective. In this case, it may end up forcing an even larger reckoning about where Baylor goes next. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Exposed The Baylor Problem That Still Hasn't Changed
Baylor has gotten plenty of encouraging play from its offense this season, with quarterback DJ Lagway and wide receiver Gavin Freeman putting together numbers that could end up among the best in program history. Even so, the Bears are still living with the same frustration that has followed them through stretches of this year: the production has often looked better on paper than it has in the standings, and a home loss to TCU brought that disconnect right back into focus.
The defense has taken steps forward from last season, giving Baylor more stability on that side of the ball, but the offense still has not consistently carried its weight when it matters most. The running game has been a particular issue, and with three ranked opponents still ahead, the Bears are running out of time to turn individual success into something more durable. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Gets A Timely Boost Before A Pivotal Kansas Test
Baylor heads into its meeting with Kansas carrying the same five players on the unavailable list that it had for the TCU game, including two season-ending injuries, so the injury report is still doing some heavy lifting for a team trying to stabilize its depth. Even so, there was a small but meaningful sign of progress: juniors Nate Kibble and Devon Jordan were not listed as questionable after both were limited last time out, which gives the Bears a little more room to maneuver as they prepare for a pivotal Big 12 test.
Head coach Dave Aranda also said quarterback DJ Lagway is still working his way back from a high-ankle sprain, but is moving closer to full strength. Baylor does not need a long injury update to know what is at stake against Kansas, and any added availability could matter as the Bears try to piece together the right lineup for a game that carries real weight in the conference race. [Read more 🡒]