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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Discussion from...

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

32,191 Views | 459 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by FLBear5630
bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 4:06p, 9/19/26
Big12Fan2024 said:
Awful blocking by our TE and RB. Bennett had no chance.

They brought the house and we didn't respond very well.
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Johnny Bear
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4:07p, 9/19/26
Shoulda punted it (and I felt that way before the play blew up).
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ImABearToo
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 4:07p, 9/19/26
Same here. But Dave…
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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dycbaylor02
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4:08p, 9/19/26
Another classic Dave go for it on 4th play. Freakin idiot
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 4:08p, 9/19/26
Johnny Bear said:
Shoulda punted it (and I felt that way before the play blew up).


Stupid calls like that by Aranda are why we lose far more often than we should. Just a bad head coach.
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bear2be2
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4:08p, 9/19/26
The one frustration I have with this defense is we haven't been great on third downs. I wish we'd be more aggressive in some of those spots.
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perrynative
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4:08p, 9/19/26
Arrogance or just dumb as dirt.
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Quinton
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4:08p, 9/19/26
That kind of play is why this team has been poor for years. Should have thrown on 3rd and short get stuffed on the run.

Then goes on 4th with a slower developing play that's completely blown up and give up huge field position putting your D in a terrible position.
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JXL
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4:09p, 9/19/26
That was clearly incomplete, he never had control
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dycbaylor02
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4:09p, 9/19/26
He's such a dumb arse coach. According to the Baylor admin eyes He gets credit for winning and his staff gets credit for the losses
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Big12Fan2024
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4:10p, 9/19/26
Did he ever have control? It doesn't look like it on TV.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Quinton • 4:10p, 9/19/26
Quinton said:
That kind of play is why this team has been poor for years. Should have thrown on 3rd and short get stuffed on the run.

Then goes on 4th with a slower developing play that's completely blown up and give up huge field position putting your D in a terrible position.

We're not good at keeping momentum and frequently give it away with plays like that. It's frustrating, for sure.
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Dia del DougO
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4:10p, 9/19/26
Got back from the road trip earlier than anticipated, so I'm strapped in.

Glad I no longer have to hear "LAAAHHH Tech" again.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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ImABearToo
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In reply to Quinton • 4:10p, 9/19/26
Analytics dontcha' know.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 4:11p, 9/19/26
dycbaylor02 said:
Another classic Dave go for it on 4th play. Freakin idiot


Pure insanity.
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Big12Fan2024
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4:12p, 9/19/26
Would be nice to hold them to maximum 3 here.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 4:13p, 9/19/26
Big12Fan2024 said:
Would be nice to hold them to maximum 3 here.

This is no gimme field goal. Force an incompletion here and turn them away completely.
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whitetrash
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4:15p, 9/19/26
Aaaand now the scoreboard is exhorting "Vamos los Osos de Baylor".

No singalong with it though.
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bear2be2
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4:16p, 9/19/26
I like that we brought some heat on that third down. Kukuk made a good play to get some yards.
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Quinton
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4:17p, 9/19/26
Absolutely crazy- David football
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bear2be2
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4:17p, 9/19/26
How do you line up offsides on a field goal? That's bad football.
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Big12Fan2024
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4:17p, 9/19/26
Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake. Sheesh.
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JXL
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4:17p, 9/19/26
Geez what a mental error
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Bear in AL
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4:17p, 9/19/26
Special Teams are not focused
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Johnny Bear
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4:18p, 9/19/26
Moron
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whitetrash
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:20p, 9/19/26
bear2be2 said:
Big12Fan2024 said:
Would be nice to hold them to maximum 3 here.

This is no gimme field goal. Force an incompletion here and turn them away completely.


And we did….twice!!
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bear2be2
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4:20p, 9/19/26
Fortunately, their kicker is awful. But the defense is playing really well.
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JXL
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4:21p, 9/19/26
And he missed it again. Sonny Cumbie must be beside himself.
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Big12Fan2024
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4:21p, 9/19/26
Given that there are so few, accurate college kickers come at a premium on the NIL market and it's easy to see why.
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bear2be2
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In reply to JXL • 4:21p, 9/19/26
JXL said:
And he missed it again. Sonny Cumbie must be beside himself.

Props to the defense for forcing another fourth down try.
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BearlyBeloved
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4:21p, 9/19/26
Missed one side and now the other. On average their kicker is right down the middle.
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whitetrash
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4:21p, 9/19/26
Thankfully, LaTech doesn't have another Chris Boniol (the kicker who beat us in 1992 with a walkoff 51 yard FG then went on to kick for the Cowboys).
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bear2be2
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4:21p, 9/19/26
That was Nate's first big miss of the game. That should have been a big-gainer.
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Johnny Bear
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4:22p, 9/19/26
We're lucky they appear to have the worst kicker in college football.
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JXL
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4:23p, 9/19/26
Are we going to go for it this deep in our own territory?
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