Underrated Performer for Baylor against Colorado: Kaian Roberts-Day

Baylor's Big 12 opener could derail the season if left to fester. However, it can also be used as fuel to keep pushing toward Arlington and a shot at the conference championship. 

While the defense failed to execute the infamous “Victory Cigar,” they played with an edge that hadn’t been seen in a while. The Bears collected 12 tackles for loss, the most by a Baylor defense since the 2022 Sugar Bowl (10). 

Head coach Dave Aranda was in his bag Saturday night in Boulder as the Bears sacked CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Sr.) eight times, with six different Baylor players recording sacks. While the linebackers dominated, their success was able to overshadow a career performance by a defensive lineman.

This week’s ‘Underrated Performer’ goes to defensive lineman Kaian Roberts-Day (RSo.). While the pressure off the edge was forcing Sanders up in the pocket, Roberts-Day was there to greet the superstar quarterback for his first career sack. He would become a disrupter twice more in the Colorado backfield, where he came away with two TFLs.

Baylor (2-2, 0-1) will need another big performance from Roberts-Day and the rest of the defense this weekend, as the Bears welcome No. 22 BYU (4-0, 1-0) to Waco. The Cougars are coming off an impressive 38-9 beatdown of No. 13 Kansas State (3-1, 0-1) in Provo.

The Bears and Cougars will kickoff at 11 a.m., with the game being nationally televised on FS1.