With Baylor’s showdown against TCU set for a 6:00 p.m. CT kickoff Saturday night, fans have a full day to keep an eye on the Big 12 before Blackout on the Brazos gets rolling. There are several league matchups that carry value for Baylor, especially with future opponents involved.
The first stop is Manhattan, where Kansas travels to face Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown. Baylor’s next opponent, Kansas, is coming in winless in Big 12 play, and the Wildcats are in the same boat. Kansas has not beaten KSU in this rivalry since before 2009, and Kansas State will be trying to make it 18 straight wins.
Another game worth watching is Texas Tech’s home matchup with Arizona State. Baylor just handled ASU in Tempe by getting out fast offensively and building a big early cushion on the way to a win. The Red Raiders will be looking to do the same against the Sun Devils’ defense while trying to stay unbeaten.
BYU and Notre Dame also give Baylor a useful look ahead. The Cougars and the Irish both entered the year with playoff hopes, and this one offers a chance to see how BYU’s defense handles Notre Dame’s offense.
It also provides a preview of sorts for Baylor’s Nov. 14 trip to Provo, Utah, since the Bears will face BYU later this season. This week, the Cougars get their toughest test yet against Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, while Bear Bachmeier and BYU will be operating without LJ Martin.
The final game on the radar is Oklahoma State at Houston. That one shapes up as a more interesting watch than it looked like in August, with both teams sitting at 4-1 and ranked in the top 20.
Drew Mestemaker has been a determined presence for the Cowboys, drawing a comparison here to Baylor receiver Gavin Freeman, who played for OSU last season. Houston, meanwhile, has landed almost exactly where expected, with its only loss coming against undefeated Texas Tech.
Iowa State is off this week, but the Cyclones will host UCF next week. Baylor will play UCF on Oct. 30 and Iowa State on Nov. 7.
In Other News...
Baylor Fans Still Havent Forgotten These Revivalry Gut Punches And Highs
The Baylor-TCU rivalry has spent the modern era living up to its Revivalry nickname, with enough swing games and late drama to linger long after the final whistle. A review of the series turns up the kind of matchups both fan bases still bring up years later, from Baylors recent breakthrough win that snapped a skid in the rivalry to the sort of tense, season-shaping moments that have made these meetings feel bigger than a spot on the schedule.
Robert Griffin IIIs electric 2011 performance remains one of the series signature memories, a reminder of how often this matchup has produced standout individual efforts along with the drama. More recently, the teams have traded gut punches in games decided in the final moments, which is part of why this border rivalry still feels so personal and why every new chapter seems to carry the weight of the last one. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Gets A Huge Revivalry Test With Home Momentum On The Line
Baylor enters this rivalry matchup with momentum, and that has made Saturdays visit from TCU feel like one of the bigger early-season measuring sticks in the Big 12. The Bears have started fast, and with both programs carrying plenty of history into the game, the stakes are about more than just one more conference result. Baylors key players and coaches have helped set the tone, while TCU arrives looking for a steadier stretch after uneven play and a reminder of how quickly rivalry games can shift the conversation.
Injuries and coaching pressure are part of the backdrop, too, which only adds to the intrigue surrounding the Horned Frogs trip. Baylors defense may also get a small boost with Garrick Ponder trending in the right direction, a development that could matter in a game where every possession feels bigger than usual. For TCU, the challenge is not just handling an energized home crowd but also finding a way to slow Baylors early-season roll before the rivalry stakes turn the noise up another notch. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Showed Off A Depth Battle Fans Will Be Watching Closely
TCU finished its preseason work with an 89-76 exhibition win over Wyoming, and the Horned Frogs used the night to keep sorting out who fits where before the games start counting. Brock Harding scored 16 points, Micah Robinson added 15, and the roster again showed the kind of balance that should make the early season rotation worth watching. The matchup also gave fans a look at several possible starting combinations and a closer view of the transfer pieces that are expected to matter right away.
Gavin Sykes supplied the biggest scoring burst with 17 points, giving TCU another reminder that the bench could end up being just as important as the opening five. For a team still settling on roles, that kind of depth is a good problem to have, even if the final answer is still a little fuzzy heading into the regular-season opener against Lindenwood. [Read more 🡒]