Baylor Football

Game Thread: Baylor Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

Game thread ahead of Baylor versus Louisiana Tech.
By SicEm365 Staff
September 18, 2026
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SICEM365 GAME THREAD

Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech

Non-Conference Finale • Family Weekend
Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 3:00 p.m. CT • ESPNU
McLane Stadium • Waco, TX • Home
Records Baylor 1-1 (0-0 Big 12) | Louisiana Tech 1-1 (0-0 Sun Belt)
Coaches Dave Aranda (Year 7) vs. Sonny Cumbie (Year 5)
Kickoff 3:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPNU
Radio John Morris, Geff Gandy, Bryson Jackson • KRZI 1660 AM / 92.3 FM
Stream ESPNU / ESPN app • BaylorBears.com radio
Series Baylor leads 5-1 • 3-1 in Waco
Last meeting Baylor 24, Louisiana Tech 16 (Shreveport, Sept. 7, 1996)
Last game Baylor 44, Prairie View A&M 3 (Sept. 12)
Line Baylor -19.5 • O/U 51.5 • as of Sept. 17

Why This Game Matters

  • Final non-conference game before Colorado opens Big 12 play next week
  • Family Weekend at McLane; Baylor Backyard Live with Members Only
  • Both starting QBs are out: DJ Lagway (ankle) and Blake Baker (hand)
  • Nate Bennett makes his second start after 314 yards and 4 TDs vs. PVAMU
  • Need to clean up 9 penalties and 3 turnovers from last Saturday

Series History

  • Baylor leads 5-1 all-time; last meeting was 1996 in Shreveport (24-16 BU)
  • Tech’s only win: 10-9 at Floyd Casey in 1992
  • Tech this year: W 80-6 vs. Northwestern State, L 45-14 at No. 8 LSU
  • Tech trailed LSU just 10-7 at half after four first-half takeaways

Keys for Baylor

  1. Protect the ball. Tech is +2 in turnover margin and picked Sam Leavitt three times.
  2. Cut the flags. Aranda: “Right now, it’s too easy to beat us, with the penalties and the turnovers.”
  3. Start fast. Tech hung around into the third quarter at LSU. Do not wait for a punch.
  4. Win the line without Tezino. Season-ending leg injury last week. Mitchell’s injunction keeps him available.
  5. Let Bennett play on schedule. Run Pendergrass, take the easy throws, avoid the two-pick repeat.

Players to Watch

Baylor: QB Nate Bennett • RB Dawson Pendergrass • WR Gavin Freeman, Louis Brown IV, Dre'lon Miller • DE Kyler Jordan • DL Hosea Wheeler, Traevon Mitchell • LB Travion Barnes

Louisiana Tech: QB Trey Kukuk (start with Baker out) • WR Jalen Mickens • DB Jordan McRae (100-yard INT return vs. LSU) • a DL/LB group Aranda called talented and takeaway-heavy

SicEm365 Louisiana Tech week reading

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Game Thread Baylor-La Tech Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech Football Baylor Louisiana Tech 2026
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Game Thread: Baylor Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

31,437 Views | 459 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by FLBear5630
Delmar 2.0
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3:20p, 9/18/26
Just win Bears!










(get well DJ)
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Dia del DougO
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8:41p, 9/18/26
I won't be able to watch tomorrow or keep up with the thread due to a family obligation. I hope y'all can somehow muddle through without my keen insights.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Dia del DougO
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8:42p, 9/18/26
And if anybody knows where I may be able to find a replay tomorrow night or during the week please let me know.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Jacques Strap
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 8:55p, 9/18/26
Dia del DougO said:
And if anybody knows where I may be able to find a replay tomorrow night or during the week please let me know.


There's usually extended highlights on YouTube same day. Full replay may be up by nighttime but loading a full game takes some time so it may not be up by Saturday night.
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historian
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In reply to Jacques Strap • 10:10p, 9/18/26
ESPN might have it.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Delmar 2.0
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8:48a, 9/19/26
DVR is your friend
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to Delmar 2.0 • 9:41a, 9/19/26
Delmar 2.0 said:
DVR is your friend

Yeah, but I don't have enough things worthy of being recorded to pay extra for DVR access.

I can record games on regular TV with a very cheap device, but not DirecTV stuff. I just have the old school receiver because I'm constantly on the verge of just cutting it off anyway.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Booboo Bear
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10:01a, 9/19/26
If you login with your cable provider, the ESPN app will have it
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Assassin
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11:15a, 9/19/26
It's on ESPN-U
Searching for Lone Star: A Tale of Two Brothers
https://tcupress.tcu.edu/9780875659862/
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boognish_bear
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2:17p, 9/19/26
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boognish_bear
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2:28p, 9/19/26
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historian
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In reply to boognish_bear • 2:34p, 9/19/26
Why hot pink? That's so ugly on a football uniform?
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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boognish_bear
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In reply to historian • 2:38p, 9/19/26
historian said:
Why hot pink? That's so ugly on a football uniform?





Baylor football will wear a special "Helmet of Hope" decal during its Sept. 19 Gold Rush game against Louisiana Tech, featuring artwork created by 6-year-old Ilaria Ramirez of Cameron, Texas.

The design includes the words "faith," "victory" and "strength," creating a powerful symbol of support for children and families battling childhood cancer.
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ImABearToo
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2:48p, 9/19/26
Win big Bears!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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whitetrash
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3:03p, 9/19/26
Lagway in shorts again.
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Baylorbears111
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3:05p, 9/19/26
Stadium looks empty.
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JXL
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3:06p, 9/19/26
Stands look pretty empty - they are saying 160 degrees on the field
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Baylorbears111
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3:06p, 9/19/26
Viibes: All the fun of a corporate pizza party playing radio edits of 90s/00s rock.
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Stranger
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3:07p, 9/19/26
ugly, ugly, ugly ass outfits.

that is all.
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ImABearToo
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In reply to Stranger • 3:09p, 9/19/26
Big Bird
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Big12Fan2024
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3:11p, 9/19/26
Nate put that exactly where he needed to. Should have been 6.
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IowaBear
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3:11p, 9/19/26
3rd 9… lets run it! Dave Aranda ball summed yp
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JXL
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3:11p, 9/19/26
There's the crappy call we've come to expect on 3rd and 9
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ImABearToo
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3:12p, 9/19/26
Aranda-ball!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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IowaBear
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In reply to Baylorbears111 • 3:12p, 9/19/26
It's been empty for damm near 2 years. It's not just the posters on here who are done with Dave
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Hotsauce
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3:13p, 9/19/26
C-team refs today?
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JXL
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3:13p, 9/19/26
Bailed by a stupid penalty on la tech
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Danielsjackson114
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3:13p, 9/19/26
What a terrible fkn team
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Big12Fan2024
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3:14p, 9/19/26
Great field vision, Nate!
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ImABearToo
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3:14p, 9/19/26
Nice!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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JXL
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3:14p, 9/19/26
Good run and awareness by Bennet
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whitetrash
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In reply to JXL • 3:14p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
Stands look pretty empty - they are saying 160 degrees on the field


Folks are standing 2-3 deep on the concourses. Student section less full (probably standing on concourse) but 3rd deck less empty. More folks on berm too. Probably 35-38K announced.
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IowaBear
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3:15p, 9/19/26
Doubt many had a long Bennett rushing TD on their bingo cards
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BellCountyBear
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3:15p, 9/19/26
Keep Lagway on the bench and cut his paycheck.
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ImABearToo
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In reply to BellCountyBear • 3:16p, 9/19/26
PTO day
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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