10 Things: Baylor Still Searching for Consistency, Despite Win over Oklahoma State

A strong second half pushed Baylor past Oklahoma State, yet sloppy stretches and missed assignments left real questions about how far this team can go.

By Will Boles

September 27, 2025

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Will Boles gives his 10 top things from Baylor’s 45-27 victory over Oklahoma State.

1. Let Bryson Washington run!

Bryson Washington showed once again why Baylor rides him. He carried the ball 10 times for 77 yards (7.7 ypc) and a touchdown, highlighted by a 19-yard scoring run in the second quarter. His burst and physicality gave Baylor consistent momentum on the ground, forcing OSU defenders to respect the run and opening up play-action opportunities. When Washington stays active, Baylor’s offense hums.

2. Trick plays???

Oklahoma State was rolling out surprises all game. They ran a double pass for a score, used a wide receiver throw and leaned hard into misdirection after the firing of Mike Gundy to shake Baylor’s defense. Those wrinkles kept Baylor honest. The Bears had to stay disciplined and guard against overpursuing. Though the offense answered big, those trick plays made parts of the first half feel precarious.

3. Defensive success did NOT continue.

After flashes of improvement, Baylor’s defense slipped back into inconsistent form. In the first half, especially, fundamentals faltered — including missed tackles, blown coverages and alignment issues — and OSU stayed in the game. Though the unit tightened up later, the early lapses allowed OSU to hang around longer than Baylor would’ve hoped. That’s a problem when you expect to win big.

4. Both lines are still struggling, big time.

Even with Baylor favored, the trenches didn’t reflect domination. The Bears’ offensive line gave Sawyer Robertson just enough space, but occasional pressures and stalled run sets showed vulnerability. On the other side, Oklahoma State’s run defense gave up 219 rushing yards total, and their offensive line had trouble sustaining drives in pass protection. When both lines wobble, advantage goes to the more balanced team — and Baylor has that edge.

5. Baylor has a lot of talented running backs.

Washington is the headliner, but Baylor’s depth backs up that assertion. Caden Knighten contributed 81 yards on 5 carries (16.2 ypc), showing explosion. Michael Turner chipped in 38 yards. That kind of depth means Baylor can rotate backs and keep fresh legs in the game — a luxury many teams don’t have.

6. The receiving core is so good.

Baylor’s receivers made plays all over the field. Josh Cameron, Kole Wilson, Kobe Prentice and Michael Trigg — when they all get touches, it’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Their variety and chemistry let Baylor attack multiple levels every series.

7. Sawyer Robertson is awesome.

He threw 24 of 35 for 393 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. That kind of efficiency under pressure is rare. Robertson kept his composure, hit throws late, and spread the ball around. This wasn’t a flash game. It was the kind of day you show as evidence when arguing that Baylor has a top-tier signal caller.

8. Good to see Sawyer take one in himself.

He didn’t just air it out — he ran it in late. On Baylor’s final touchdown drive, Robertson carried a two-yard rush into the end zone for his fifth score of the day. That kind of timely QB run makes you more dangerous, especially in goal-line or short-yardage situations. It tells defenses he’s a threat when the pocket closes — and that changes how they rush him.

9. Kyland Reed had some promising flashes.

Though the stat sheet didn’t jump out, Reed made his presence known on defense. He read plays quickly, filled gaps against the run, and showed the kind of speed that lets him cover ground sideline to sideline. His instincts put him in a position to affect plays even when he wasn’t the one making the tackle. Performances like this suggest Reed can develop into a steady contributor in Baylor’s linebacker rotation moving forward.

10. Second-half adjustments were great.

At halftime, Baylor led just 28-20, but what we saw in the third and fourth quarters was dominance. Baylor struck quickly with a 73-yard strike to Prentice, then methodically extended the advantage. The defense cleaned up coverage mistakes, the run game pushed forward and the offense maintained a balanced tempo. That kind of turnaround — when things weren’t smooth early — shows coaching, grit, and belief.

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