‘The Season Isn’t Over’: Baylor Looks to Rebound in Clash against No. 21 Cincinnati

Long Live Bambino: Kole Wilson Looks to Honor Late Brother’s Legacy This Season

Despite the 42-36 loss to rival TCU over the weekend, head coach Dave Aranda is preaching a “fourth-and-one” mentality, which his team has embraced, understanding the importance of the game ahead against No. 21 Cincinnati.

“It’s always tough, but at the end of the day, it’s not the end of the season,” wide receiver Kole Wilson said of the loss to the Horned Frogs. “That was just one game. That was something to put a chip back on our shoulder. We have to correct it and get to Cincinnati.”

Linebacker Keaton Thomas added, “We’re excited for another opportunity. We get to compete against a top-25 team at their house, up there in the north. It’ll be fun. It’ll be cool. Of course, we hate that we lost, but the good thing about it is the season isn’t over. The only thing we’re guaranteed is another chance to get better, so that’s how we’re looking at it this week.”

Even though Baylor was coming off the bye week, it was the same story that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing when it faced TCU: a sluggish start, followed by porous play on defense, sloppy play on offense, and a fervent fourth-quarter comeback that came up just short.

“It always is a little frustrating because we always preach playing complementary football,” Wilson said. “In all three phases of the game, and just having each other’s backs, but it seems like we weren’t doing that, and then it all came together at the end. We just wish we had done that the whole game.”

Speaking of complementary football, Wilson hopes the Bears can put it all together this Saturday against No. 21 Cincinnati, even though they haven't managed to do so up until this point.

“I feel like it is coming,” Wilson said. “Everybody always makes mistakes. Nobody’s perfect, but that’s who we strive toward. I feel like we’re getting real close. You see glimpses of it at the end of the game. Defense gets a stop, we score, we get the onside kick — that’s all three phases of the game. That’s proof that we can do it right there. We just have to put it all together.”

There was optimism that, coming off the bye week, the Bears’ defense would improve, but they put together another rough performance against the Horned Frogs, surrendering 427 yards and 42 points. Thomas, however, believes Baylor’s problems are still fixable and that they have the chance to turn things around.

“Communication. Taking better angles and fixing missed tackles. Missing our MAs in coverage,” Thomas said. “There are times when you watch the games and see the potential to be elite. It’s there. We just have to be able to do it consistently. The more consistent we are, the better the defense will become.”

With Baylor entering this weekend’s matchup in “must-win” territory, some of the leaders on the team, such as Thomas, quarterback Sawyer Robertson and safety Devyn Bobby, have made an intentional effort to be more vocal to get the Bears headed back in the right direction. 

“That’s one of the things I needed to work on, which was using my voice and using certain words,” Thomas said. “You can’t talk to everybody the same. Everybody comes from different places. I know where I’m from. When you yell, I’m locked in. For other guys, you have to pull them to the side and talk to them and let them know you’re there for them, but I have to get on you, so we can be better as a team.”

As the Bears prepare for their matchup against No. 21 Cincinnati, Aranda noted that this is the “best team” Baylor will face so far this season, and Thomas backed that up, describing how explosive their offense is and how it’ll be a challenge to stop them.

“Elite running backs. Really good quarterback. Receivers are good. The O-line plays really good as a team,” Thomas said. “I’m excited. I love playing against really good teams. It’s the bright lights — that’s what you live for. We have to step up to the mantle and take the trophy.”

The Bears (4-3, 2-2) will travel to take on the No. 21 Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1, 4-0) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Nippert Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.