Every College Football Playoff team from this past season averaged more than 31.6 points per game.
Eight teams averaged over 34.7 points per game, while the other six averaged more than 35.7 points. It is evident in modern college football that you have to be able to score points at a high rate to make it to the CFP.
Baylor passed this test with ease as the offense averaged 34.4 points per game last season, which included a very slow start across the first six games. The Bears averaged 28 points through the first six weeks and held a 2-4 record.
From that point on, the offense erupted for a whopping 39.8 points per game and a 6-1 record to the finish. The offensive unit was elite down the stretch, but it may be even better in 2025.
One reason for the high expectations is the return of senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who took over the reins at this position starting against Air Force in week three.
He dominated as he produced the fifth-highest QBR in the nation, only behind Miami’s Cam Ward, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke and Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart.
More optimism comes from his return when you look at the College Football Playoff teams.
Ten of the 12 teams in the CFP had either a returning starting quarterback or spent big on a high-level transfer quarterback, with the only exceptions being Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava and SMU’s Kevin Jennings.
Great quarterback play typically leads to great success, and we saw that from the best teams in the nation last year — Robertson fits the bill.
He is far from the only reason for excitement, though, as the Bears saw the offensive line go from one of the worst in the country in 2023 to one of the best in the Big 12 by the end of the 2024 season.
First-year offensive line coach Mason Miller completely flipped things for the group. It was a work in progress in the first six weeks, but he moved Sidney Fugar to left tackle during the bye week, and a light switch turned on for the unit.
The line paved the way for Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass to run wild to the tune of 216 yards per game over the final seven games.
If those results took place over an entire season, Baylor would have finished No. 11 in the nation in rushing yards per game.
Four of the starters return from last year's offensive line group. That cohesiveness, mixed with Miller’s second year in Waco and the talented depth on the roster, provides optimism that this group could be even better.
That’s not all, though.
Washington earned Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and honors on The Athletic’s Freshman All-American Second-Team. He’s back.
The Bears are also slated to return Pendergrass, who posted 774 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns.
Returning those two, plus the additions of two four-star freshmen, Caden Knighten and Michael Turner, gives Baylor arguably the best-running back room in the Big 12.
But wait, there’s more.
All-Big 12 wide receiver and punt returner Josh Cameron will be back to build on his 10-touchdown campaign.
Ashtyn Hawkins’ extra year of eligibility due to the college football JUCO ruling in the Diego Pavia case gives the offense another ultra-reliable pass catcher.
Plus, tight end Michael Trigg will be back, and he flashes NFL Draft potential in just about every game he plays.
Those three pieces, along with the 1,600-yard Texas State transfer Kole Wilson, Alabama four-star transfer Kobe Prentice, four-star sophomore Jadon Porter and four-star true freshman Taz Williams, make this passing game very intriguing.
Sure, there are questions after missing on the top three transfer portal prospects at outside wide receiver, but returning three of your top five pass catchers plus the additions they made this offseason is about as good as any program can expect nowadays.
The final piece of the puzzle is Baylor offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who is heading into his second year with the program.
“The best offenses I have had it’s year two; they go crazy,” Spavital told Grayson Grundhoefer and Colt Barber on Inside Baylor Sports.
If that is the case here, then this Baylor team has a chance to potentially enter unchartered territory by making a College Football Playoff for the first time.
