Baylor walks into its Big 12 opener with the path forward sitting right in front of it. The Bears control their own fate now, and the formula is simple: keep winning, and the postseason stays within reach.
That makes Saturday’s matchup with Colorado feel like more than just another conference game. Baylor is expected to handle the Buffaloes, and plenty of analysts and experts have leaned that way when asked to pick a winner. Colorado, after all, is coming off a 41-7 embarrassment against Northwestern, has released several players due to "behavior detrimental to the team," and has shown vulnerability in its defensive secondary.
Those issues create a clear expectation for Baylor: get ahead early and keep pressing until the final whistle. Anything less than a dominant result would likely leave plenty of people wanting more, and a win by 40 points or so would hardly be a surprise in that view.
For Baylor, the offensive details matter too. More yards per carry on the ground, or a few explosive runs, would go a long way toward calming concerns about the offensive line’s current production.
DJ Lagway could also quiet plenty of noise with a breakout day, especially if he puts up 300-plus passing yards and adds 100-plus on the ground. That kind of performance would help push back against the "Nate Bennett should be the starter" chatter.
Dave Aranda, though, is the one under the brightest spotlight. Baylor still has not beaten a Power 4 opponent this season. PVA&M may have been SWAC champions last season, LA Tech may have held LSU to 10 points at halftime in Week 2, and Baylor may have lost to Auburn by what amounted to a foot on the failed two-point conversion, but Auburn remains the only Power 4 opponent the Bears have faced, and they lost that one.
A win over Colorado would change the mood quickly in Waco. It would ease the heat around Aranda, make bowl eligibility feel far more real, and keep last year’s 5-7 finish from hanging over the program quite as heavily.
In Other News...
Baylor Just Showed Why Its Big 12 Push Is So Dangerous
Baylors home conference opener at Betty Lou Mays Field had the feel of an early Big 12 test, and the Bears answered it well. After Oklahoma State struck first through Laudan Wilson, Baylor settled in and turned the match with goals from Aryanna Jimison and Noelle Sather, then backed it up with a clear edge in pressure and possession.
The Bears finished with a 19-9 shot advantage and got four saves from goalkeeper Azul Alvarez to help protect the lead. It was the kind of conference win that can travel well, especially for a team trying to establish itself quickly in a league where every result tends to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Injury Concerns Could Change Baylor's Big 12 Opener
Colorado heads into its Big 12 opener against Baylor dealing with a longer injury list than the Bears, and that could shape how the Buffaloes try to attack on offense. Several key players remain out or questionable for Week 4, leaving Colorado with fewer healthy options than it would like as it tries to get through a conference road test.
The absences already include tight end Charlie Williams and running back Henderson, which could force Colorado to adjust its game plan and lean on players who have had to fill bigger roles. Even in the middle of that uncertainty, some replacements have begun to settle in, including kicker Elliot Arnold stepping up for injured teammates, but the overall picture still leaves plenty to sort out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor's Biggest Colorado Worry Could Decide More Than The Opener
Safety Devin Turners expected return gives Baylor another layer in the secondary, which is a welcome development as the Bears get ready for Colorado. That area looks like one of the more stable parts of the roster, with enough experience and playmaking to help Baylor match up on the back end while the offense sorts through its own early-season questions.
The bigger concern is up front, where the line has to handle both run blocking and pass protection against a Colorado defense that will test it in different ways. Baylor has pieces in the passing game to lean on, including Gavin Freeman, Louis Brown IV, Jayden McGowan and Drelon Miller, the Colorado transfer who adds an extra wrinkle to this opener. If the line settles in, the Bears can make that group matter quickly, but if it does not, the matchup could become more complicated than a simple first-game warmup. [Read more 🡒]