Baylor Football

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

Game thread ahead of Baylor versus Louisiana Tech.
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

SICEM365
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Game Thread: Baylor Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

32,197 Views | 459 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by FLBear5630
Dia del DougO
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Probably was OOB, but not sure it can be proven from the replay.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
Dia del DougO
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Yep.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
boognish_bear
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historian said:

I hate how these announcers are openly cheering for La Tech


How so?
Dia del DougO
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What does the book say now? Waiting nervously.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
BearFan33
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The up the middle stuff isn't working
Big12Fan2024
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We better be really good at slinging it in Big 12 play because we have a very limited rushing attack. Yes, these are predictable runs here and that's part of the explanation but we have no gamebreaking risk on that list of RBs.
BearFan33
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Putrid offensive possession

Play action intermediate passes and long passes are working.
whitetrash
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Dia del DougO said:

Probably was OOB, but not sure it can be proven from the replay.


He was in bounds when he got the ball, it was a question of whether he secured it before sliding out of bounds.
PlanoTXBear
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what happened to the WR who dropped the TD pass against auburn who wears the guardian helmet?
Dia del DougO
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Not really inspired by the second half thus far.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
historian
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That was another great defensive play!
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
BearFan33
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PlanoTXBear said:

what happened to the WR who dropped the TD pass against auburn who wears the guardian helmet?

Out this game
bear2be2
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Big12Fan2024 said:

We better be really good at slinging it in Big 12 play because we have a very limited rushing attack. Yes, these are predictable runs here and that's part of the explanation but we have no gamebreaking risk on that list of RBs.

Hopefully Lagway will be healthy enough to contribute to the run game. Our base run game isn't going to work in the Big 12 without the threat of the QB run.
Big12Fan2024
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I haven't kept up with everything. What happened to the transfer receiver from CU who was gonna be a huge downfield threat? Is he injured? Maybe he's playing and I just haven't noticed him.
boognish_bear
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Dia del DougO said:

Not really inspired by the second half thus far.


Yeah...feels like they put it in neutral after the last TD
bear2be2
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PlanoTXBear said:

what happened to the WR who dropped the TD pass against auburn who wears the guardian helmet?

He's hurt. Didn't play last week either.
bear2be2
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Big12Fan2024 said:

I haven't kept up with everything. What happened to the transfer receiver from CU who was gonna be a huge downfield threat? Is he injured? Maybe he's playing and I just haven't noticed him.

I think he was just a bust. He's only got one catch in three games.

Taz Williams returned and took that other outside spot back, along with McGowan.
historian
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In almost every way: taking their side in 50-50 calls, constantly talking about what they need to do to win, etc.

It's probably mostly my baylor fandom but they don't seem as balanced as I'm used to seeing. Even RGIII when he called out games was more balanced.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
Youre a clown
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bear2be2 said:

Big12Fan2024 said:

We better be really good at slinging it in Big 12 play because we have a very limited rushing attack. Yes, these are predictable runs here and that's part of the explanation but we have no gamebreaking risk on that list of RBs.

Hopefully Lagway will be healthy enough to contribute to the run game. Our base run game isn't going to work in the Big 12 without the threat of the QB run.

He's going to get injured very quickly if that's what we have to resort to
Timbear
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I've been saying it for 2 years that Spav is Not a good OC.
How can Spav and Spectrum Dave look at this run game week after week, and Never make changes to a more dynamic run game.
Baylor will go 5-7 max, and maybe even 4-8.
Youre a clown
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historian said:

In almost every way: taking their side in 50-50 calls, constantly talking about what they need to do to win, etc.

It's probably mostly my baylor fandom but they don't seem as balanced as I'm used to seeing. Even RGIII when he called out games was more balanced.


From their perspective and from the network's perspective, it's two irrelevant teams playing each other. Casual fans that aren't Alumni of either team just want to see a fun, close game, and most people like it when the underdog wins. I'm sure it's nothing personal
bear2be2
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Youre a clown said:

bear2be2 said:

Big12Fan2024 said:

We better be really good at slinging it in Big 12 play because we have a very limited rushing attack. Yes, these are predictable runs here and that's part of the explanation but we have no gamebreaking risk on that list of RBs.

Hopefully Lagway will be healthy enough to contribute to the run game. Our base run game isn't going to work in the Big 12 without the threat of the QB run.

He's going to get injured very quickly if that's what we have to resort to

I'm not suggesting he carry the ball 15 times a game. But he needs to pull the ball enough to keep defenses honest.
Dia del DougO
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1 is the better play, but whatever.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
boognish_bear
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Butt ugly game
Dia del DougO
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Now they would have to go for two and convert twice, just to tie.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
Big12Fan2024
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Our D needs a nice field long drive from the offense on this series. They've been out there way too much in the 2nd half.
bear2be2
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You can't keep putting your defense in bad field position situations and expect them to hold up all game.

We're getting beat handily in time of possession, too.

Other than Nate and a couple of the receivers, this has been a pretty disappointing offensive performance.
ImABearToo
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Glad I watched this one from my recliner. Another insufferable McLane experience in 100 degree temps, I'm sure.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
boognish_bear
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Dia del DougO said:

Are we beating the spread yet?


Not anymore...and I'm not sure we are gonna score again
Youre a clown
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Timbear said:

I've been saying it for 2 years that Spav is Not a good OC.
How can Spav and Spectrum Dave look at this run game week after week, and Never make changes to a more dynamic run game.
Baylor will go 5-7 max, and maybe even 4-8.

Offensive line isn't good enough to get a run game going. The best our run game has looked under spav was 2024 with Bryson Washington, and a lot of of that was the offensive line we had that year
bear2be2
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Big12Fan2024 said:

Our D needs a nice field long drive from the offense on this series. They've been out there way too much in the 2nd half.

No doubt. And it's been one high-stress possession after another because of how much of this game has been played on our end of the field.
historian
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Never should have allowed that score
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
bear2be2
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boognish_bear said:

Dia del DougO said:

Are we beating the spread yet?


Not anymore...and I'm not sure we are gonna score again

We need to try to beat them over the top again.

We could get pretty much anything we want in the passing game and we're trying to hammer a run game that's not there.
Big12Fan2024
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Almost fell asleep there on the kickoff.
bear2be2
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historian said:

Never should have allowed that score

The drive started at midfield. A tired defense is going to crack at some point.
 
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