TCU walked into Waco and made life miserable for Baylor’s offense in a 17-6 win, and the Bears spent most of the night searching for answers that never really came. The defense gave Baylor enough to hang around, but the offense never found a rhythm against a TCU group that controlled the game from start to finish.
DJ Lagway had a rough night under that kind of pressure. TCU didn’t leave much breathing room for open targets, but Lagway also forced too many throws into traffic or double coverage, and several others sailed out of bounds. His unwillingness, or inability, to take off running when space opened up only made the night harder.
Even in a tough offensive showing, Gavin Freeman kept working and came away with the Bears’ best receiving line. He finished with a team-high 7 catches for 76 yards, fighting through tight coverage all game and giving Baylor its most productive option through the air.
Baylor’s defense, meanwhile, kept doing what it has done for six straight games: holding opponents under 20 points. This one still wasn’t perfect, but the unit again gave the Bears a real chance to stay in it.
The stat sheet backed it up with 4 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and an interception. Micah Gifford, Hosea Wheeler, "Slug" Traevon Mitchell, Kaleb Burns, Travion Barnes, Garrick Ponder, Reggie Bush II, and the rest of the defense all deserved credit for the way they battled.
Palmer Williams also turned in another steady night in the punting game. Even with TCU’s J.
Chance putting up more total punts at 8 and more yardage at 323 for a 40.4 average, Williams finished with a better average. He punted 5 times for 233 yards, a 46.6 average, and placed two kicks inside the 20 despite not always working with ideal field position.
He’s continued to be one of Baylor’s most reliable pieces.
The bigger issue sat up front. TCU’s defense showed exactly why it has been talked up, and Baylor’s offensive line couldn’t create enough room or protection to change the shape of the game. The Bears managed only 54 rushing yards, another sign of how thoroughly TCU dictated things.
That has been a season-long problem, and it has to get sorted quickly. If not, the rest of the Big 12 is going to look at TCU’s blueprint and try the same thing against Baylor.
In Other News...
TCU Just Sent Baylor A Message Fans Needed To See
TCU walked out of McLane Stadium with a 17-6 win over Baylor, and it was the kind of result Horned Frogs fans have been waiting to see in this rivalry. Baylor had won four straight in the series, but TCU leaned on a defense that set the tone early and kept the Bears from ever finding much rhythm on offense.
Koron Hayward was a constant problem in the backfield, helping pressure Baylor throughout the night, while Jaden Craig gave the Frogs enough balance on offense to control the game. Craig connected on key throws, including a long strike to Jordan Dwyer, and finished with two touchdown passes as TCU improved to 4-1 against Baylor under Sonny Dykes. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Still Havent Forgotten These Revivalry Gut Punches And Highs
The Revivalry has spent plenty of time living up to its name, with Baylor and TCU trading blows in games that have shaped the modern feel of the matchup. From Robert Griffin IIIs 2011 showcase to the tense, back-and-forth meetings that have defined the series in recent years, the rivalry has been built on the kind of pressure-filled moments that stick with fans long after the final whistle.
Baylor supporters still have reasons to circle this one every season because the stakes never seem to stay ordinary for long. The Bears have been on both ends of the drama, including some especially cruel finishes and a recent breakthrough that reminded everyone just how thin the margin can be between a breakthrough and a gut punch in this series. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Still Has One Harsh Problem After Rivalry Loss
TCUs latest trip through the Revivalry offered a little of everything the Horned Frogs needed after a rough stretch, and the defensive side set the tone early. The new offensive line setup also gave TCU a different look up front, though the group still had its hands full in run blocking and had to fight through tackles for loss and sacks while the game tilted toward a low-scoring grind.
Baylor, meanwhile, had to sit with the bigger problem that can linger after a rivalry loss: there was not much room for offensive rhythm against a TCU defense that kept making life difficult snap after snap. Hayward was a major part of that pressure, finishing with five tackles and three sacks, and his impact helped make the Horned Frogs return to the win column feel a lot more decisive than the final score alone might suggest. [Read more 🡒]