Baylor’s postgame mood after beating LA Tech wasn’t built around flash. It was built around trust, repetition, and a quarterback who sounded more interested in crediting the people around him than claiming any for himself.
Nate Bennett’s comments gave the clearest picture of that. He said the job at quarterback is to get the playmaker the ball, and he admitted there were times he did not do that last week.
He didn’t hide behind the moment or soften the edge of the critique. Instead, he owned it, pointed to the lack of reps with the one receivers through spring and fall, and talked about how much the team’s closeness matters.
He also said the Bears put in extra work after walkthroughs and spent time on team visualization, which he tied directly to the way he played. Bennett said he had plays he wanted back in this game too, but he also said he tried to picture himself making those plays during the week. “I mean, praise God I connected on them,” he said, adding that the receivers make his job easy and that he was thankful for the chance to make up for missed chances.
That kind of response says a lot about where Baylor is right now. Bennett didn’t sound like a quarterback trying to protect his image.
He sounded like a guy who knows exactly what he’s supposed to do and expects to do it well. If he starts against Colorado next game, some of the staff here would be fine with that.
He also spoke highly of Jayden McGowan, calling him “my guy” and describing him as “a fireball out there” and “the nicest dude you’ll ever meet.” Bennett said he loves McGowan’s temperament and pointed to the work they got in during fall camp, which he said translated over the past two games. He also mentioned McGowan’s speed and ability to make people miss, along with Gavin Freeman’s, saying his own role is to be a point guard and get the ball into their hands.
That showed up against LA Tech in the most obvious way possible. McGowan was targeted twice, caught both passes, and scored touchdowns both times. Add Freeman, Louis Brown IV, Dre’lon Miller, and the rest of the group, and Baylor looks like a team with real depth at receiver.
Brown’s comments carried the same tone. He called Bennett “a big time player,” and said he had watched him grow through winter, fall camp, and summer.
Brown talked about the connection the group built, the trust they have in each other, and the belief and faith that brought it all together. “It was fantastic,” he said.
He came back to that theme again when he talked about the team’s work ethic. Brown said Baylor stresses being “smart, tough, dependable” every week, and noted the way the group keeps putting in extra work after practice.
He said the receivers have guys who can play inside and outside, and emphasized that the goal is to make everything second nature through daily repetition. Brown said it all comes down to believing they can make anything happen if they stay dialed in and do their “1/11” throughout the week.
He finished by saying he feels very comfortable going into conference play.
That’s the thread running through all of it: a team that sounds connected, not fractured. Baylor’s players didn’t use the win to settle scores or make excuses.
They talked about work, trust, and doing their jobs for each other. Even after the loss to Auburn earlier in the season, that was the message then too - no blame game, no finger-pointing, just a commitment to do better.
There are still things to clean up, including questions along the offensive line and some penalty discipline that needs tightening. But the Bears do sound mentally locked in.
If positivity were gasoline, this team would have enough to make a very long trip and still have fuel left over. The road through the rest of the season won’t be easy, but Baylor sounds ready for it.
In Other News...
Baylors Colorado Game Is Bringing Back A Feeling McLane Stadium Needed
McLane Stadium is set to get a different kind of buzz when Baylor opens Big 12 play against Colorado, with tickets still available across the official and secondary markets at a wide range of prices. The get-in options have dropped into the low-end range for fans hoping to be there in person, while resale seats are being listed much higher depending on the view and the marketplace, a sign that there is still plenty of interest in a matchup with real conference weight and a national TV window on ESPN2.
For Baylor, this is the sort of September atmosphere McLane has been waiting for. A conference opener has a way of changing the feel around a stadium, especially when both teams arrive with something to prove and the game is getting a standalone spotlight on national television. Even with tickets still circulating, the setup suggests a crowd that should have a little more edge and energy than the average early-season date in Waco. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Is Battling Heavyweights For A Texas Athlete Bears Fans Should Watch
Brayden Arnold is already drawing attention well before the end of his high school career, and Baylor is among the programs keeping close tabs on the Duncanville, Texas, defensive back-athlete. A four-star prospect in the 2028 recruiting class, Arnold has trimmed his list to eight schools, a sign that his recruitment is beginning to sharpen even with his junior and senior seasons still ahead.
The Bears are battling a crowded field for a player who has flashed rare athletic traits for his age, including a 40.1-inch vertical jump and a 100-meter time of 11.78 seconds. Ranked No. 357 in the class by 247Sports Composite, Arnold remains undecided for now, but Baylor has positioned itself in the mix for one of the states more intriguing young prospects. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Colorado Plan Suddenly Hinges On One Huge DJ Lagway Question
Baylors preparation for Colorado took a welcome turn when Dave Aranda said starting quarterback DJ Lagway and several other injured players are expected back for the matchup. Lagway has been cleared to play and, by all indications, is feeling good, which matters because Baylor has been waiting to see how much of its offense it can truly lean on with its top quarterback available again. The return of Jadon Porter, Devin Turner and Logan Moore adds to the sense that the Bears are finally getting healthier at the right time.
The bigger question now is how much Lagways ankle will affect what Baylor can do once the game kicks off. Arandas optimism suggests the staff believes the injury should not restrict the play-calling, but until Lagway is back on the field against Colorado, there is still some uncertainty about just how close he is to full strength. For a Baylor team looking to reset its rhythm, that answer could shape the entire night. [Read more 🡒]