Baylor’s first Big 12 game of the season was won the hard way, with defense, special teams, and a little bit of grit doing the heavy lifting in a 3-0 home stretch that ended Saturday with a win over Colorado. The Bears moved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play, their best start under Coach Aranda since the 2021 season, when they opened 4-0 and went on to win the Big 12.
Colorado came to Waco and made Baylor work for everything, but the Bears were the more determined team when it mattered most. The offense never fully found its rhythm, the running game still had trouble getting established, and a 10-penalty performance continued a problem that has not gone away. Even so, Baylor’s defense and special teams kept the Buffaloes from taking control.
The numbers tell the story of a tight, messy game. Colorado ran 81 plays to Baylor’s 74 and finished with a slight edge in total yards, 363-337.
The Buffaloes also held the ball longer, 31:26 to 28:34. But Baylor won the hidden battles that swung the afternoon: 5 sacks to 1, 13 tackles for loss to 9, and a huge edge in punt return production, 130 yards to 22.
The first half never really settled into a clean flow for either side. Penalties kept both teams stuck in the mud, and Baylor’s defense opened a little slowly before tightening up as the game wore on.
The biggest early turning point came on fourth-and-1, when Micah Gifford and the Bears stopped Colorado cold. That stand set up the next Baylor drive, and DJ Lagway found Gavin Freeman for the only touchdown of the first half.
Right before halftime, Lagway threw an interception that could have changed the feel of the game, but Baylor’s defense came through again and kept Colorado off the board before the break.
The second half followed a familiar script. Baylor had chances to put the game away, but the offense kept stalling out with multiple three-and-outs.
Still, the Bears never let Colorado seize the moment. The defense kept squeezing the Buffaloes with sacks and run stops, and that unit has now been steady all season long.
A few specific moments helped tilt the game Baylor’s way. Jayden McGowan’s first punt return for Colorado was fielded at the two-yard line, and he turned it into strong field position by bringing it back to the Baylor 39.
Later, Gifford and Kedrick Walker forced a turnover on downs, leading to a short Baylor drive that was helped by Colorado penalties before Lagway hit Freeman for the touchdown. Freeman also delivered one of the game’s most electric plays, hurdling a Buffalo defender after a catch, spinning through contact, and staying upright for extra yards.
Special teams deservedly got a major share of the credit. Rhett Armstrong went 3-for-3, including a long of 54 yards, and Palmer Williams was outstanding on seven punts, averaging 50.4 yards with three downed inside the 5 and four inside the 20.
McGowan kept giving Baylor a lift as a punt returner, and he looks close to breaking one open at any moment. Freeman, meanwhile, kept causing problems for Colorado despite standing just 5-foot-9.
There was also concern for Gifford, who appeared to suffer a leg injury after taking a hit and had to be helped off the field without putting weight on his right leg. No further information was available at the time of publication.
For Bear of the Week, the nod goes to Baylor’s special teams. Armstrong’s perfect day, Williams’ field-position control, and McGowan’s steady returns made the difference, just ahead of a defense that again did its job. The early sluggishness kept the defense from taking the top spot outright, but it was still a winning performance from that side of the ball.
Baylor now leaves McLane Stadium and heads to Tempe, Arizona, for a matchup with Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday, October 3rd. It will be the Bears’ second of nine Big XII games and their first road game since the week one loss to Auburn.
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