Baylor Football

Game Thread: Baylor Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

Game thread ahead of Baylor versus Louisiana Tech.
By SicEm365 Staff
September 18, 2026
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SICEM365 GAME THREAD

Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech

Non-Conference Finale • Family Weekend
Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 3:00 p.m. CT • ESPNU
McLane Stadium • Waco, TX • Home
Records Baylor 1-1 (0-0 Big 12) | Louisiana Tech 1-1 (0-0 Sun Belt)
Coaches Dave Aranda (Year 7) vs. Sonny Cumbie (Year 5)
Kickoff 3:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPNU
Radio John Morris, Geff Gandy, Bryson Jackson • KRZI 1660 AM / 92.3 FM
Stream ESPNU / ESPN app • BaylorBears.com radio
Series Baylor leads 5-1 • 3-1 in Waco
Last meeting Baylor 24, Louisiana Tech 16 (Shreveport, Sept. 7, 1996)
Last game Baylor 44, Prairie View A&M 3 (Sept. 12)
Line Baylor -19.5 • O/U 51.5 • as of Sept. 17

Why This Game Matters

  • Final non-conference game before Colorado opens Big 12 play next week
  • Family Weekend at McLane; Baylor Backyard Live with Members Only
  • Both starting QBs are out: DJ Lagway (ankle) and Blake Baker (hand)
  • Nate Bennett makes his second start after 314 yards and 4 TDs vs. PVAMU
  • Need to clean up 9 penalties and 3 turnovers from last Saturday

Series History

  • Baylor leads 5-1 all-time; last meeting was 1996 in Shreveport (24-16 BU)
  • Tech’s only win: 10-9 at Floyd Casey in 1992
  • Tech this year: W 80-6 vs. Northwestern State, L 45-14 at No. 8 LSU
  • Tech trailed LSU just 10-7 at half after four first-half takeaways

Keys for Baylor

  1. Protect the ball. Tech is +2 in turnover margin and picked Sam Leavitt three times.
  2. Cut the flags. Aranda: “Right now, it’s too easy to beat us, with the penalties and the turnovers.”
  3. Start fast. Tech hung around into the third quarter at LSU. Do not wait for a punch.
  4. Win the line without Tezino. Season-ending leg injury last week. Mitchell’s injunction keeps him available.
  5. Let Bennett play on schedule. Run Pendergrass, take the easy throws, avoid the two-pick repeat.

Players to Watch

Baylor: QB Nate Bennett • RB Dawson Pendergrass • WR Gavin Freeman, Louis Brown IV, Dre'lon Miller • DE Kyler Jordan • DL Hosea Wheeler, Traevon Mitchell • LB Travion Barnes

Louisiana Tech: QB Trey Kukuk (start with Baker out) • WR Jalen Mickens • DB Jordan McRae (100-yard INT return vs. LSU) • a DL/LB group Aranda called talented and takeaway-heavy

SicEm365 Louisiana Tech week reading

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Discussion from...

Game Thread: Baylor Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

32,427 Views | 459 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by FLBear5630
ImABearToo
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 5:21p, 9/19/26
The replacement for #74 whiffed his block.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Danielsjackson114
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5:21p, 9/19/26
Is this backyard bull*****

Always such an undisciplined team
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BearFan33
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5:21p, 9/19/26
What are we doing?
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bear2be2
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 5:22p, 9/19/26
Dia del DougO said:
Not good vision there by Bennett. You gotta feel footsteps when you stop and look that long.

You can't just stop and stand still on a roll out. That was really bad pocket presence.
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to ImABearToo • 5:23p, 9/19/26
ImABearToo said:
The replacement for #74 whiffed his block.

Not good at any level. But it seemed like Nate just stopped and looked for like ten seconds while the defenders was bearing down ten yards away, then boom.

You just can't take that much time. Run or throw.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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bear2be2
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In reply to ImABearToo • 5:23p, 9/19/26
ImABearToo said:
The replacement for #74 whiffed his block.

He did, but you should never get sacked from the blind side on a roll out to the other side of the field. You've got to get that ball out or take off and run.
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whitetrash
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5:27p, 9/19/26
QB got Klopfensteined: knocked sideways 6 inches short of the line.
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boognish_bear
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5:27p, 9/19/26
This is a damn stingy defense. So disciplined too.
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bear2be2
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5:28p, 9/19/26
I really like this defense.

Klanderman was a phenomenal hire. We're really lucky Chris Klieman decided to hang it up when he did.
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JXL
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5:28p, 9/19/26
Cumbie channels the spirit of Dave Aranda and goes for it deep in his own territory, failing.
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to JXL • 5:29p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
Cumbie channels the spirit of Dave Aranda and goes for it deep in his own territory, failing.

Playing with house money after a couple of possession gimmies.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Mitch Blood Green
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5:29p, 9/19/26
Getting ready for the flying Deion Sanders'
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bear2be2
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In reply to JXL • 5:30p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
Cumbie channels the spirit of Dave Aranda and goes for it deep in his own territory, failing.

I mean, they're down three scores. They pretty much had to go for it if they wanted any chance to win.

It's different when you're up two scores with a quality defense.
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bear2be2
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5:31p, 9/19/26
I'll take three there. Let's score one more touchdown and move on to Colorado.
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BearlyBeloved
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5:31p, 9/19/26
good shot of empty seats in the sun
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Dia del DougO
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5:32p, 9/19/26
Are we beating the spread yet?
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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bear2be2
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 5:32p, 9/19/26
BearlyBeloved said:
good shot of empty seats in the sun

I can't blame anyone for choosing not to sit in that heat.

The visiting side at McClane is brutal on days like today.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 5:32p, 9/19/26
Dia del DougO said:
Are we beating the spread yet?

Yeah. I think the spread was 18.5.

We've done a lot of good things today, and I do like this team. I just have some fundamental disagreements with our head coach philosophically.
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Dia del DougO
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5:35p, 9/19/26
Pendergrass has only 2.8 yards per rush today, 12 carries for 34. That's not a good sign.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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bear2be2
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5:35p, 9/19/26
We're better in every possible area defensively this year. But I've been very impressed with our coverage so far. Our guys are almost always in position to make a play.
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whitetrash
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 5:35p, 9/19/26
Dia del DougO said:
Pendergrass has only 2.8 yards per rush today, 12 carries for 34. That's not a good sign.


He would have had 12 for 105 had the premature whistle not blown.
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bear2be2
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5:35p, 9/19/26
If not for the quarterback run, Louisiana Tech would have done next to nothing offensively today.

But they're not going to be the only team that tries to use that strategy against us.
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historian
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 5:37p, 9/19/26
BearlyBeloved said:
good shot of empty seats in the sun

nobody familiar with Texas heat is surprised
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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ETX Bear
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5:37p, 9/19/26
It's time to retire the drum pregame and during the quarter break. It's embarrassingly bad.
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historian
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 5:37p, 9/19/26
Dia del DougO said:
Pendergrass has only 2.8 yards per rush today, 12 carries for 34. That's not a good sign.

He had few yards last week as well
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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historian
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In reply to bear2be2 • 5:38p, 9/19/26
I thinking we are giving up too many first downs & too many yards
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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BUGWBBear
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In reply to BearFan33 • 5:39p, 9/19/26
BearFan33 said:
What are we doing?


Morris color guy is wondering the same thing. Speaking of which, Morris needs a guy who can actually read and speak. This one is awful.
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ImABearToo
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5:41p, 9/19/26
I hope our guys just didn't want to play a 3pm game in the heat. End this already.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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bear2be2
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In reply to historian • 5:42p, 9/19/26
historian said:
I thinking we are giving up too many first downs & too many yards

They just went over 200 total yards on this drive.
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boognish_bear
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5:43p, 9/19/26
I was just about to say it feels like the defense's intensity has dropped a little...then that happens
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to whitetrash • 5:43p, 9/19/26
whitetrash said:
Dia del DougO said:
Pendergrass has only 2.8 yards per rush today, 12 carries for 34. That's not a good sign.


He would have had 12 for 105 had the premature whistle not blown.

Missed that one before I was able to get to the TV.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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JXL
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5:43p, 9/19/26
I'm not sure we had that before he went out of bounds
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bear2be2
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In reply to JXL • 5:44p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
I'm not sure we had that before he went out of bounds

I don't think he did. But that was one hell of a play by 21.
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historian
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5:44p, 9/19/26
I hate how these announcers are openly cheering for La Tech
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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boognish_bear
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In reply to JXL • 5:45p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
I'm not sure we had that before he went out of bounds


I'm not either. Luckily the initial ruling was in our favor and I don't think any angle shows anything conclusive.
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