The 2026 Baylor Soccer season will be defined by how the Bears handle six crucial games. Ok, that was a bit dramatic, but here are what I consider to be the top three non-conference and top three Big 12 matchups that will reveal the most about Michelle Lenard’s squad.
My criteria were an ill-defined mix of overall challenge, learning opportunity, stakes, and bragging rights among other considerations. Now let’s begin:
Baylor Soccer Non-Conference Schedule
- at Arkansas
- Texas A&M
- Texas State
- at Texas
- Pepperdine
- at LSU
- Marquette
- at Oral Roberts
Pepperdine, Marquette and Oral Roberts don’t make the cut.
The Eagles and the Owls are opponents that the Bears really just have to beat and should beat. The Waves were an NCAA tournament team last year, but compared to the other five games, there just isn’t as much juice in that matchup for me.
Texas State and LSU also don’t make the cut, despite their quality.
The Bobcats are an in-state program that made the NCAA tournament last year, but the Bears had little trouble with them both on the road and at home with the season on the line. Not that Texas State won’t be a challenge, but the other four matchups have higher stakes, or more talent, or both.
For the Tigers, I cut them simply because they aren’t a Texas team and they aren’t the season opener. LSU very well could end up being Baylor’s toughest non-conference matchup after making the Sweet 16 last year like the Bears. But it’s time to dive into why the other three games are a cut above in my opinion.
Season Opener, at Arkansas
The defending SEC regular season champions, Arkansas, are a notoriously big and physical team. I saw the Bears play the Razorbacks in a spring exhibition a couple of years ago, and the size difference was noticeable, having a clear effect on the game. It is a key of that program every year to have athletes that are a couple inches taller and hopefully a step faster. It forces opponents to stay concentrated and composed as they get beaten up throughout the game. This is a style that Baylor typically struggles with, so it is a great test right off the bat. Being on the road in Fayetteville is a non-negligible aspect as well. A winnable opener for the Bears, but a huge test at the same time.
Home Opener, vs. Texas A&M
This is the fourth straight year that the Bears will play the Aggies, and Michelle Lenard is 1-0-2 in the Battle of the Brazos. The Aggies have a new head coach — former Florida State associate head coach Bobby Shuttleworth — and this will be the first of five opportunities this season for Baylor to make a statement about who runs collegiate soccer in Texas. FSU is a top-tier program, and the Aggies are rarely shy about committing resources for athletic success. A win would feel great for Baylor fans and players alike, but it could have even more impact on recruits.
Game 4, at Texas
This is the fourth time in the Lenard Era that the Bears will play the Longhorns, and Michelle is 1-2-0 against UT. The Horns also have a new head coach — former UCLA national championship-winning head coach Margueritte Bates — and this is the third of five opportunities this season for Baylor to make a statement about who runs collegiate soccer in Texas. Austin also typically produces some high-level recruits, so beating the hometown team could be an extra recruiting boon. Funny how this is incredibly similar to the Texas A&M entry.
As a group, these three games will be a good gauge of how well Baylor has carried momentum from 2025 into 2026.
Baylor Soccer 2026 Big 12 games
- at WVU
- Oklahoma State
- Cincinnati
- Kansas
- at Colorado
- Kansas State
- TCU
- at Arizona State
- at Arizona
- at Texas Tech
- Houston
Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Arizona State and Houston don’t make the cut.
None of these teams should be on Baylor’s level, and the Bears will need to win all these games to win a Big 12 title. A slip-up in one or two games could very well happen, but there are better matchups to look forward to.
Cincinnati, Colorado, Arizona and Texas Tech also don’t make the top three.
I expect Cincinnati and Arizona to be struggling to reach the top half of the conference.
Travel is why Arizona stayed past the first round of cuts. Style of play is why Cincinnati stayed. Also, both are the second game of two-game weekends.
For Colorado and Texas Tech, they are likely expecting to be in the top half of the Big 12. Both of those games being road trips makes them tougher, but that is not enough to make the top three. Texas Tech lost a good bit of production from last year’s team, and I think there are more interesting matchups for the Bears than either the Raiders or the Buffs.
Big 12 Opener, at West Virginia
Last year’s regular season runners-up, the Mountaineers are typically tough, have NCAA tournament quality, know what it takes to win in the Big 12 and are freaking far away. That is a really tough recipe for the conference opener, but it's also a great opportunity to roll non-con momentum right into conference play. Or it’s a good challenge to force a mental reset as conference play starts and the stakes rise.
Big 12 Game 4, vs Kansas
The Jayhawks are “so difficult to play against, and they've shown consistently that they're going to be able to compete at the top of the league,” according to Baylor head coach Michelle Lenard. KU is another program that plays a more physical and direct game like Arkansas. The Bears were able to capitalize on their opportunities last year in Lawrence and make Kansas chase the game, but that will not be simple to replicate. This should be the second or third best home game of the year behind Texas A&M and the biggest game of the regular season.
Big 12 Game 7, vs TCU
This is the biggest game of the Bears' season. Not only is this a rivalry, but it will hopefully have huge Big 12 title ramifications. TCU is the defending regular season champ, coming off of a Women’s College Cup appearance, and the Bears beat them 4-3 in an exhibition this spring. A win here would also be Michelle Lenard’s first regular season win over the Frogs. Oh, and football hosts TCU the very next day. That will be one heck of a weekend for Baylor sports.
While the top three non-conference games should be more of markers for what Baylor Soccer is capable of in 2026, these conference games will decide whether the year is a success or failure and to what degree. However, across all six games, how Baylor fares will determine if 2026 is another Sweet 16 year, a program-record year, or a letdown.
Baylor Soccer games at Betty Lou Mayes Field are free to the public, and I highly recommend readers go cheer on the Bears if they have the chance.
