Player's Club: 'We're Trying To Get The Best Bowl Game We Can'

With Baylor's latest win over West Virginia in Morgantown, the Bears officially clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022. Coaches and players alike are happy about the chance to rally the troops and play one extra game.

"It's exciting; that's what you work for," tight end Gavin Yates (Sr.) told the media on Tuesday. "Obviously, you work for a National Championship, but a bowl game is in the right direction. It's an opportunity to be with your best friends and all of your teammates in a different place."

"It feels good," running back Bryson Washington (RFr.) said. "Last year, I wasn't really with the team. To be with them and to contribute to a bowl game, it feels pretty good."

With two games remaining on the schedule against Houston and Kansas, the Bears can secure an even better bowl bid if they keep racking up victories.

"We know the more games you win, the better bowl game you'll get," Yates added. "We're still trying to win out, and that's the plan. We're trying to get the best bowl game we can."

"We've talked a little bit about playing maybe some SEC schools or some schools that are doing good; there's potential to play anybody, Washington said. "Making it a good bowl game is a big accomplishment, and that's something we have on our to-do list."

Before the Bears can look too far ahead in the future, their current test is a formidable Houston defense that head coach Dave Aranda believes is the best front seven Baylor has played.

Yates reiterated Aranda's comments: "They have outstanding and athletic defensive linemen and well-rounded linebackers. It presents a challenge that we're extremely up to. We're excited with our offense and the way we've been moving the ball; we're excited for the challenge up front."

In the backfield, Washington has continued to emerge as an alpha running back for the Bears. Against West Virginia, he rushed for 123 yards on 18 carries while catching five passes for 59 yards; he has totaled eight scores in his last two games.

The highlight of Washington's phenomenal game was a 22-yard touchdown reception. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) perfectly placed a ball up the left seam, and Washington mossed a West Virginia defender for the score.

"I honestly didn't think Sawyer was going to throw that ball to me," Washington said, laughing. "I was a little bit gassed. I leaned on the guy, and as soon as I picked my head up, I saw the ball in the air and had to go get it."

After Washington's 180-yard, four-touchdown performance, the Big 12 chose Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (So.) for the conference's Offensive Player of the Week award. While Washington's numbers were arguably better than Tyson's 12 receptions for 176 yards and two scores, the Franklin native didn't feel snubbed.

"No, I'm not a big guy on awards," Washington said. "God knows what I'm capable of. Anybody else's opinion doesn't really matter to me."

During the win streak, Baylor has also been receiving stellar "transition blocking" from its tight ends and wide receivers, something that first-year offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has heavily emphasized this season. 

On most run plays up the middle, Yates or fellow tight end Michael Trigg (RJr.) will motion and lead block for Washington or Dawson Pendergrass (So.).

"Spav will be like,' I've never seen a tight-end duo like you and Trigg. Y'all love the run plays,'" Yates said, impersonating his offensive coordinator. "It's fun. I like getting a full force of speed and going to crack someone."

Yates added to that, saying, "At what point is your block going to be the touchdown block? You can see it on film with Hal Presley or Monaray Baldwin running down the field, catching up to B-Wash to make a touchdown block. The biggest thing in this offense is that the ball sprays everywhere, so it's one block away from being a 30-yard gain or a 60-yard touchdown."

According to Yates and Washington, the motivation to always look for key blocks comes not only from Spavital but also the big boys up front and the offensive line coach, Mason Miller, who brings "nastiness" every Saturday, a starch difference from last season.

"They want to maul people, hit you in the face and plant you in the earth," Yates said. "We didn't have that edge that Aranda talks about all throughout my four years, but we have that on the offensive line. That's where the edge starts for the whole team."

"[The nastiness] comes from the winning momentum and Coach Miller," Washington said. "I love Coach Miller. In practice, if the O-line isn't doing their job, he's on them. With our teammates, we hold each other accountable. Last year, I didn't really feel that. We've gotten closer and are able to talk to each other."

The offensive line's performance during the winning streak has been a key storyline for Baylor's recent success, but Washington says he's noticed them getting better each week since the beginning of the year.

"They've improved a lot, but I've been seeing the good they've been doing," he said. "To people, it's been a big jump to them, but they've been doing it since the beginning of the season. It's the little things like making the hole bigger for me to run through, or me picking up my feet, anything like that."

The Bears (6-4, 4-3) will look to extend their winning streak to five games on Saturday against Houston (4-6, 3-4) at TDECU Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. on FS1.