WACO, Texas – With star signal-caller DJ Lagway sidelined for Saturday’s contest because of an ankle injury, it was the Nate Bennett show in Baylor’s 2026 home opener against Prairie View A&M at McLane Stadium.
In his first career start, the California native led the Bears to a 44-3 victory, completing 23-of-35 passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bennett also scored on a 17-yard run, giving Baylor a glimpse of what it has behind Lagway if the star quarterback misses additional time.
“He’s a really confident dude,” head coach Dave Aranda said post-game. “His attention to detail and routine throughout the week couldn't be any better. [Coach] Spav was singing his praises all throughout the week. His preparation put him in position to play fast and free. I didn’t see a lot of thinking or double-guessing. There were a couple of plays he’d like to take back, but from where he’s been and what he’s had to overcome and the hurdles he’s had to go through, it’s really cool to see him have this moment. He’s really happy, and I thought his joy translated onto the other guys.”
Sophomore running back Caden Knighten, who had 12 carries for 66 yards and a score on Saturday, added, “I trust and respect Nate a lot. He can get the job done, just like any other quarterback we have in the room. When he was named the starter, I had full confidence. Seeing that confidence from him gave us a spark.”
Bennett’s most reliable target was fifth-year senior Gavin Freeman, who built on his incredible Week 1 performance with a team-leading 10 catches for 104 yards. But a nice surprise beyond Freeman was the play of fifth-year senior and Charlotte transfer Jayden McGowan, who hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Bennett and finished with three catches for 67 yards.
“It was such a blessing,” McGowan said of making an impact. “It’s been so long since I was able to play. I missed all of last season. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play again, and to Coach Aranda and Coach Spav for giving me a shot. I was able to make the most of my opportunities.”
With junior wide receiver Jadon Porter sidelined, the Bears needed another playmaker to emerge, and McGowan answered the call on Saturday. As a true freshman at Vanderbilt in 2022, McGowan ranked second on the team in receptions (44) and receiving yards (453), but injuries have disrupted his once-promising career in the years since.
“It was a huge deal for us,” Aranda said of McGowan’s performance. “Jayden McGowan is someone that’s coming back from surgery himself. He’s been at a couple of schools. If you look at film from a couple of schools ago, he’s way dynamic. He’s unbelievably dynamic. His highlight film at Vanderbilt was amazing to look at. We were looking for someone, and he was available, and he’s loved everything about Baylor. He’s smiling more than I thought he would. I thought he was going to be a tough nut to crack. It’s cool to see him have success. When he first got here, his knee was a little gimpy, but he’s healthy now. He’s fast-fast. We have to get the ball a little more.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Baylor’s defense picked up right where it left off against Auburn, as the Bears dominated the Panthers in Saturday’s victory and posted four sacks, seven tackles for loss, recovered a fumble, and limited Prairie View A&M’s offense to 110 total yards.
“They’re playing connected and are playing for each other,” Aranda said when asked about what makes his defense special. “They’re connected to Joe [Klanderman] and their coaches. Their position coaches have good relationships with the players, and they play for them and for each other.”
After Prairie View A&M marched down the field and kicked a field goal on its opening possession, Baylor shut out the Panthers for the remainder of the contest and forced 11 punts. The Panthers have boasted one of the better offenses in the FCS over the last few seasons.
“After that first drive, we knew that wasn’t the standard,” fifth-year senior safety Colby McCalister said. “We picked each other up. That’s a great thing about this team. I love everybody. We play for each other. We have no selfish guys on the team. After that first drive, we reset and got to work. I’m really proud.”
Unfortunately, the Bears didn’t come out of Saturday’s contest unscathed. On the second play from scrimmage, defensive lineman Devonte Tezino got cut-blocked by a Panther offensive lineman. He immediately signaled to the bench and was later carted off the field.
Aranda didn’t provide a positive update, saying, “We lose him for the season. It was the same thing that happened to Travion Barnes a year ago. It’s really unfortunate that we’re having guys break ankles. It sucks. Tez was playing the best football of his life.”
Senior edge rusher Ryan Davis, who led the Bears with four tackles and a sack, added, “Tez is a beast. It definitely hurt us bad. He’s been in the facility working his tail off every single day. He dominates at practice. He dominated in the Auburn game. I have loads of respect for him. We got to the sideline and said prayers for him. He’s a strong dude. He’s a leader. I know he’s going to come back even stronger and will bounce back.”
The Bears (1-1) will close out non-conference play with a matchup against Louisiana Tech (1-1) at 3 p.m. next Saturday, Sept. 19, at McLane Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
