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 Battles Louisiana Tech Before Big 12 Play Begins

32,190 Views | 459 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by FLBear5630
FLBear5630
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In reply to Bandito • 4:37p, 9/19/26
Bandito said:
20-7

Thought we were losing...
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Johnny Bear
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4:38p, 9/19/26
Meanwhile ags losing 14-7 to Kentucky in the 3rd quarter - at home.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Quinton • 4:38p, 9/19/26
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for error substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 4:42p, 9/19/26
Johnny Bear said:
Meanwhile ags losing 14-7 to Kentucky in the 3rd quarter - at home.

And they beat Arizona State by a million.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:42p, 9/19/26
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?
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historian
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4:42p, 9/19/26
The officials cheated Pendergrass out of an east TD. It's not as bad as Michigan stealing a win from Western Michigan but it's still blatant cheating.

NCAA had better clean up this stupid nonsense.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:43p, 9/19/26
bear2be2 said:
Johnny Bear said:
Meanwhile ags losing 14-7 to Kentucky in the 3rd quarter - at home.

And they beat Arizona State by a million.

Any given Saturday
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bear2be2
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:43p, 9/19/26
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?

No, it's not because we still look like a Dave Aranda-coached team with a better defense. That's not a sustainable path to long-term success.

The mistakes we're making today will cost us games against better opponents.
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historian
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4:43p, 9/19/26
Meanwhile Aggies are losing at home to Kentucky: 14-7 late in Q3
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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boognish_bear
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4:45p, 9/19/26
UK 21 Ags 7

Close it out Cats
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PLSQL_BEAR
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 4:45p, 9/19/26
Johnny Bear said:
Meanwhile ags losing 14-7 to Kentucky in the 3rd quarter - at home.


21-7 now
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Johnny Bear
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:45p, 9/19/26
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Johnny Bear said:
Meanwhile ags losing 14-7 to Kentucky in the 3rd quarter - at home.

And they beat Arizona State by a million.

Any given Saturday

Make that 21-7 Kentucky -3:55 left in the 3rd quarter.
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ImABearToo
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In reply to historian • 4:45p, 9/19/26
21-7 Kentucky. Poor aggy
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Team America
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In reply to ImABearToo • 4:46p, 9/19/26
ImABearToo said:
21-7 Kentucky. Poor aggy


It should be 28-7. UK WR dropped a WIDE open TD in the first half.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:48p, 9/19/26
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?

No, it's not because we still look like a Dave Aranda-coached team with a better defense. That's not a sustainable path to long-term success.

The mistakes we're making today will cost us games against better opponents.

Have you guys watched other teams?

Sloppier football, especially early, is going to be much worse than before NIL. You can't change that many parts and be clean. There is no institutional memory.

I thought Bennett looked pretty good for a backup, hit a nice long one. Line seems a bit ho-hum, if anything. But, if this is the worst we see? I am good...
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boognish_bear
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4:48p, 9/19/26
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Dia del DougO
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4:48p, 9/19/26
Suddenly I'm getting the wrong game on the same channel.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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PLSQL_BEAR
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4:49p, 9/19/26
When Tech got the strip sack, did they blitz?
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FLBear5630
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 4:49p, 9/19/26
Dia del DougO said:
Suddenly I'm getting the wrong game on the same channel.

Me too. I turned on ESPNU and UNC was on. Thought it was Halftime

More importantly, what is everyone drinking?

For Octoberfest-salute going with Warsteiner Pilsner and a Mosel Reisling for dinner...
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historian
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:49p, 9/19/26
They cheated
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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bear2be2
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:51p, 9/19/26
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?

No, it's not because we still look like a Dave Aranda-coached team with a better defense. That's not a sustainable path to long-term success.

The mistakes we're making today will cost us games against better opponents.

Have you guys watched other teams?

Sloppier football, especially early, is going to be much worse than before NIL. You can't change that many parts and be clean. There is no institutional memory.

I thought Bennett looked pretty good for a backup, hit a nice long one. Line seems a bit ho-hum, if anything. But, if this is the worst we see? I am good...

I watch more football than anyone here. Not every team in the country shoots itself in the foot in a completely self-inflicted way multiple times every game.

But that's part of the problem. This Baylor team actually has talent. We have a top-five D-line in the Big 12 this year, which should be a huge deal. But we're still going to be fighting tooth and nail with the Big 12 also-rans because we are utterly allergic to positive momentum and have no killer instinct.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to historian • 4:51p, 9/19/26
historian said:
They cheated

Got to be... At least you are consistent, my friend... It is always cheating! : )
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boykin_spaniel
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4:51p, 9/19/26
Did the game move channels or will they switch back at the end of halftime?
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:52p, 9/19/26
FLBear5630 said:
Dia del DougO said:
Suddenly I'm getting the wrong game on the same channel.

Me too. I turned on ESPNU and UNC was on. Thought it was Halftime

More importantly, what is everyone drinking?


Whatever it is, probably not enough of it.

Maybe they just switched to Clemson during halftime?
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:53p, 9/19/26
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?

No, it's not because we still look like a Dave Aranda-coached team with a better defense. That's not a sustainable path to long-term success.

The mistakes we're making today will cost us games against better opponents.

Have you guys watched other teams?

Sloppier football, especially early, is going to be much worse than before NIL. You can't change that many parts and be clean. There is no institutional memory.

I thought Bennett looked pretty good for a backup, hit a nice long one. Line seems a bit ho-hum, if anything. But, if this is the worst we see? I am good...

I watch more football than anyone here. Not every team in the country shoots itself in the foot in a completely self-inflicted way multiple times every game.

But that's part of the problem. This Baylor team actually has talent. And we're still going to be fighting tooth and nail with the Big 12 also-rans because we are utterly allergic to positive momentum and have no killer instinct.

You could be very right, why worry about what hasn't happened yet? There will be plenty of time for gnashing teeth and over-analysis, if it happens, we are up 20-7. That calls for a beer...
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Guitarbiscuit
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4:54p, 9/19/26
Just saw A&M go for it on 4th and 2 from their own 30 and fail. Aranda has company.
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to boykin_spaniel • 4:54p, 9/19/26
boykin_spaniel said:
Did the game move channels or will they switch back at the end of halftime?


Seems so, at least until the second half, maybe?

The sure didn't want to interrupt the Tetris World Championship on 207.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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bear2be2
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4:54p, 9/19/26
The Clemson game was delayed by lightning. So they just moved the conclusion of it to ESPNU so they could show their scheduled game on ESPN.

It should be over before our game starts back.
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Dia del DougO
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4:54p, 9/19/26
OK, it looks like they have switched back for the second half.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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whitetrash
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4:54p, 9/19/26
3Q just kicked off, in case they are still showing Clemson.
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boognish_bear
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4:55p, 9/19/26
FSU 14
Bama 3

End of Q1
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bear2be2
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In reply to boognish_bear • 4:56p, 9/19/26
boognish_bear said:
FSU 14
Bama 3

End of Q1

College football in 2026 is drunk
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Dia del DougO
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4:56p, 9/19/26
Baylor should have already been getting ready to put more backups on the field by now.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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boognish_bear
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4:58p, 9/19/26
Hope we don't let them score on this opening drive. La Tech starting with a good rhythm.
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bear2be2
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 4:58p, 9/19/26
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
Quinton said:
Still just completely undisciplined, unaware textbook Dave football. It really is hard to be this bad situationally.

Worst situational team in the country over the last 5 years and there isn't a close second.

The good news is our defense looks like a legit game-changer.

That increases our margin for air substantially.

But I wish Aranda would learn that he doesn't have to use all of that margin every damn week.

This holds we win 40-14, if the 2nd half is the same. (Big if)

That isn't enough?

No, it's not because we still look like a Dave Aranda-coached team with a better defense. That's not a sustainable path to long-term success.

The mistakes we're making today will cost us games against better opponents.

Have you guys watched other teams?

Sloppier football, especially early, is going to be much worse than before NIL. You can't change that many parts and be clean. There is no institutional memory.

I thought Bennett looked pretty good for a backup, hit a nice long one. Line seems a bit ho-hum, if anything. But, if this is the worst we see? I am good...

I watch more football than anyone here. Not every team in the country shoots itself in the foot in a completely self-inflicted way multiple times every game.

But that's part of the problem. This Baylor team actually has talent. And we're still going to be fighting tooth and nail with the Big 12 also-rans because we are utterly allergic to positive momentum and have no killer instinct.

You could be very right, why worry about what hasn't happened yet? There will be plenty of time for gnashing teeth and over-analysis, if it happens, we are up 20-7. That calls for a beer...

It has happened already. We're going on four straight years of watching it happen weekly.

I'm frustrated because I think this team could actually be good. But it still feels like our head coach is a hinderance, not an asset.
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