Will Boles gives his 10 Things from the Baylor game against Houston.
1. Prayers up for Caden Knighten.
First and foremost. That did not look good, and it was hard to watch. No official update yet, but based on what we saw, it looked like it could be a back or spine-related issue. Hoping for the absolute best for him.
2. Defense was BAD, especially early on.
There’s no way around it. Baylor couldn’t stop the run, receivers were left completely unguarded and too many guys were out of position. It set the tone for a long afternoon.
3. Keaton Thomas was fantastic today.
On the bright side, Keaton Thomas showed up in a big way. He had the interception and made several key tackles throughout the game. In a rough defensive performance, he was one of the few consistent difference-makers.
4. Always living and dying on fourth down.
Another week of high-risk, high-reward decisions. Baylor took two deep shots on fourth down. One hit, one didn’t, but both were questionable calls based on game flow. The first probably should’ve been a conversion if not for the penalty, but either way, it’s becoming a pattern.
5. Thank you, Bryson Washington.
The stats might not show it, but Bryson gave Baylor everything he had this year. Anytime he was able to play, he played. He put his body on the line over and over again. He went out on the second play today and came back to the sideline in a boot and street clothes, and that alone says everything about what he’s been battling. I hope we see him back next season, fully healthy and ready to go.
6. The senior wide receivers had a good afternoon.
Josh Cameron did work both as a punt returner and a receiver, adding a touchdown to cap off another strong game. Kole Wilson seemed to be open all afternoon and kept the chains moving. Ashtyn Hawkins and Kobe Prentice made the most of their chances, too. The veterans showed up in their final outing at McLane.
7. Sawyer struggled early, but used his legs well.
He missed some easy throws to start the game, but he did convert a key third down and a two-point try with his legs. His mobility kept Baylor afloat at times. Still, it’s been a tough back half of the season for him, and his draft stock has taken a hit. Hopefully, he still gets a real shot at the next level.
8. The referee crew was inconsistent, to put it kindly.
Baylor got hit with multiple pass interference calls while Houston only drew one. And on that final drive, the refs flat-out missed two huge calls. It was rough all afternoon. Very, very bad.
9. Dave Aranda’s clock management is ABYSMAL.
Baylor let Houston drain the clock inside two minutes on a drive where everyone in the stadium knew they were going to score. No timeouts before the two-minute warning, no attempt to preserve the clock, nothing. Down seven with less than two to play because we simply chose not to manage the moment. Really?
10. Something needs to be done. This isn’t even mediocrity, it’s just bad football.
In my opinion, the program is slipping in a way that goes beyond on-field issues. The decision to announce Aranda’s return so early was unnecessary and has only made things more complicated. The ripple effects are already showing, heightened by some unsettling energy around the recruiting class. Baylor is not setting itself up for a stable future right now, and pretending otherwise doesn’t help. Something has to give, and it has to give soon.
