Behind Enemy Lines: What K-State is saying about Baylor

Baylor will have back-to-back opportunities to try to channel their road magic to get a win as they head to K-State this week and TCU the following. The Bears laid another egg at home last week to Houston in overtime 25-24 and now face arguably their most difficult challenge this week in The Little Apple.

K-State is also coming off an overtime loss themselves, as they dropped a heartbreaker in Austin last week 33-30 to No. 7 Texas. Wildcats’ head coach Chris Klieman spoke with the media earlier this week and said that his team has been extremely focused this week in practice.

Klieman was asked about this week’s game against a struggling Baylor team, and the importance of not taking the Bears for granted despite their record.

“We as coaches know how difficult the Big 12 can be and we’re going to get Baylor’s best this weekend,” said Klieman. “They haven’t lost on the road. They haven’t played many on the road, but they have two Big 12 wins. I’ve got so much respect for Dave Aranda and they are two years removed from a Big 12 championship.”

If the Bears have any hope of pulling off a miracle on Saturday they are going to have to give Blake Shapen time to cook in the pocket, which is asking a lot. Shapen has been sensational given the circumstances that he’s been dealt this season and his play hasn’t gone unnoticed by Klieman and the Wildcats.

“Shapen is a really really good player. I’ve liked him since the day he came in here in 2021 as a backup and came in and played extremely well against us,” said Klieman. “I honestly think he has that ‘It Factor’ and we’re going to have to play our best to have an opportunity to be successful.”

“He (Shapen) can really run the football. Last week against Houston he had a scramble on 3rd-and-18 on really their last chance and when most guys would throw it away, he cut back and made some guys miss on a play that I’ve seen him make before,” said Klieman. “I think he throws the ball with great authority. I think he’s on point throwing the football.”

Baylor will need to play their best game of the season in order to hang with K-State. The Wildcats are one of seven Power 5 teams that rank in the Top 18 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. 

Kickoff between the Bears (3-6, 2-4) and K-State (6-3, 4-2) is set for 2:00 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.