Baylor Football

Game Thread: Baylor Football Opens Conference Play in Waco against Colorado

Bears open Big 12 play against Colorado.
By SicEm365 Staff
September 25, 2026
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SICEM365 GAME THREAD

Baylor vs. Colorado

2026 Big 12 Opener • Throwback Uniforms
Saturday, September 26, 2026 • 11:00 a.m. CT • ESPN2
McLane Stadium • Waco, TX • Home
Records Baylor 2-1 (0-0 Big 12) | Colorado 2-1 (0-0 Big 12)
Coaches Dave Aranda (Year 7) vs. Deion Sanders (Year 4)
Kickoff 11:00 a.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. MT
TV ESPN2 — Lowell Galindo, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport
Radio John Morris, Geff Gandy, Bryson Jackson • KRZI 1660 AM / 92.3 FM
Stream ESPN2 / ESPN app • BaylorBears.com radio
Series Colorado leads 10-7 • CU 4-2 in Waco
Last meeting Colorado 38, Baylor 31 (2OT, Boulder, Sept. 21, 2024)
Last game Baylor 36, Louisiana Tech 19 (Sept. 19)
Line Baylor -9.5 • O/U 55.5 • as of Sept. 25

Why This Game Matters

  • Big 12 opener for both teams; first conference home game of 2026
  • DJ Lagway listed as probable after missing two games with a sprained ankle
  • Throwback uniforms: gold-chrome helmet, green jersey, B-A-Y-L-O-R across the chest
  • Colorado is coming off a 41-7 loss at Northwestern and roster discipline cuts
  • Baylor has not won a conference opener since 2022

Series History

  • Colorado leads 10-7 all-time and 4-2 in Waco
  • Last meeting: Hail Mary to force OT, then Travis Hunter strip in 2OT, CU 38-31 in Boulder
  • Last Waco meeting: Colorado 43-23 in 2007
  • Last Baylor home win vs. CU: 42-30 in 2003
  • Colorado this year: W 14-13 at Georgia Tech, W 52-21 vs. Weber State, L 41-7 at Northwestern

Keys for Baylor

  1. Get Lagway going early. He is 0-1 as a Bear and has not played since Auburn. Colorado’s pass defense is suspect.
  2. Stop the Go-Go run game. CU’s strength is the ground attack and four backs averaging 5+ YPC. Brennan Marion needs a big game as OC.
  3. Win the red zone. Colorado is last in the Big 12 in red-zone trips and has allowed seven RZ TDs. Baylor hasn’t finished better than 12th in red-zone offense scoring percentage dating back to 2023 and ranks 13th currently. 
  4. Apply pressure for 60 minutes. Aranda expects CU’s best shot after Northwestern. Baylor can’t have a Louisiana Tech type of fourth quarter.
  5. Protect the ball. Don’t give Colorado life with turnovers. Baylor hasn’t done a good job of that this season. 

Players to Watch

Baylor: QB DJ Lagway (probable) • RB Dawson Pendergrass • WR Gavin Freeman, Jayden McGowan • LB Travion Barnes • DL Hosea Wheeler, Traevon Mitchell • S Micah Gifford, Devin Turner

Colorado: HC Deion Sanders • OC Brennan Marion (Go-Go) • DC Chris Marve • a four-back run game that’s banged up

SicEm365 Colorado week reading

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Discussion from...

Game Thread: Baylor Football Opens Conference Play in Waco against Colorado

58,305 Views | 749 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by FLBear5630
boognish_bear
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In reply to Bearlysurviving • 2:46p, 9/26/26
Bearlysurviving said:
why not kick it? Makes no sense at all


99.9% of HCs kick that.
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BearlyBeloved
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2:46p, 9/26/26
We wisely refused to intercept it.
Better field position.
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bear2be2
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2:47p, 9/26/26
As ugly as this was, I wanted a multi-score win, and we got it.

I thought we were cooked when they rallied to tie, but we finished strong. For now, that's progress.
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BearFan33
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2:47p, 9/26/26
Well done defense and special teams.
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El Oso
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2:47p, 9/26/26
Horns survived 20-17
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Dia del DougO
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2:47p, 9/26/26
Well, OK...

A win is a win.

Some good things today. Some strange things, too.

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ImABearToo
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In reply to BearlyBeloved • 2:47p, 9/26/26
Sarcasm?
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Big12Fan2024
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2:48p, 9/26/26
Dave now UNDEFEATED in Big 12 play.

Too early to start talking Extension?
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El Oso
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2:48p, 9/26/26
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 2:49p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
As ugly as this was, I wanted a multi-score win, and we got it.

I thought we were cooked when they rallied to tie, but we finished strong. For now, that's progress.

I agree. We won. Good game. 1-0 in B12 play. Won at home. All is well. It was a good day...
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Delmar 2.0
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2:49p, 9/26/26
SWEET VICTORY!!!

CELEBRATE & SIC'EM!!!
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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boognish_bear
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2:49p, 9/26/26
Lagway was shaky for sure. Maybe part of that is not playing for 2 weeks. Hopefully the offense can make some much needed improvements this week. We just need them to be average.

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Bearlysurviving
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2:50p, 9/26/26
Disappointing to see the stands completely empty even with a conference win. I get the fan base is jaded but our team needs support. Definitely doesn't look good to the recruits there
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dycbaylor02
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In reply to El Oso • 2:50p, 9/26/26
El Oso said:
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.

To me a fully healthy lagway will give us an edge if he can stay dual threat. He showed he has a cannon and zip of an arm. Today showed he's still hurt and something is really off with him with the airballs and underpasses.
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boognish_bear
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2:50p, 9/26/26
Say hello to your B12 1st place Baylor Bears!
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FLBear5630
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In reply to El Oso • 2:50p, 9/26/26
El Oso said:
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.

Lagway doesn't give me warm fuzzies. He looks like a Coach killer. Looks good, tests well and then does not turn it into production on the field. Everyone looks at him and goes, he SHOULD be an All-American... UF learned about him.
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Dia del DougO
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2:51p, 9/26/26


I don't have any ten things today. I'm running out of things to GAF about, really.

This game was exhausting.

Glad they won.

D was mostly darn good except for one really bad series.

Offense was confusing.

I don't really feel encouraged about conference play going forward.

Arandalytics didn't really factor, until late when it probably didn't matter anyway.

Spavalytics, maybe a bigger thing today.

My earlier prediction of 15-12 Baylor win was just a joke, but not far off.

What do I win?

OK, that was some things. Sort of.

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boognish_bear
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 2:52p, 9/26/26
dycbaylor02 said:
El Oso said:
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.

To me a fully healthy lagway will give us an edge if he can stay dual threat. He showed he has a cannon and zip of an arm. Today showed he's still hurt and something is really off with him with the airballs and underpasses.


I am no doctor. Does anyone know if a hurt ankle is something that will continue healing if he keeps playing on it?
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TechDawgMc
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In reply to boognish_bear • 2:55p, 9/26/26
boognish_bear said:
dycbaylor02 said:
El Oso said:
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.

To me a fully healthy lagway will give us an edge if he can stay dual threat. He showed he has a cannon and zip of an arm. Today showed he's still hurt and something is really off with him with the airballs and underpasses.


I am no doctor. Does anyone know if a hurt ankle is something that will continue healing if he keeps playing on it?


Generally speaking a sprain gets better with rest and time. He did look like he wasn't limping much between plays. He really needs to be able to run to be effective
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to bear2be2 • 2:56p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
As ugly as this was, I wanted a multi-score win, and we got it.

I thought we were cooked when they rallied to tie, but we finished strong. For now, that's progress.


True. Progress. I'm going to delay sending my yearly pointless email to the administrators.
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to boognish_bear • 2:57p, 9/26/26
It'll never heal running on it lol
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boognish_bear
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2:57p, 9/26/26
Still thinking about that 54 yd Armstrong FG. That thing was like a Tiger Woods knock down 5 iron stinger. That was great to see.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 2:59p, 9/26/26
FLBear5630 said:
El Oso said:
We won the must win. I still think ASU rolls us next week. I like our defense, but our offense does not give me hope for too many upsets this year.

Lagway doesn't give me warm fuzzies. He looks like a Coach killer. Looks good, tests well and then does not turn it into production on the field. Everyone looks at him and goes, he SHOULD be an All-American... UF learned about him.


I'd agree. Not efficient. Too many bad decisions. He won't change. Pretty sure we'd have won today with Nate by about the same score. And that does not bode well for Lagway.
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Dia del DougO
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2:59p, 9/26/26
I've seen Lagway do great things in his career, but not consistently enough. That's been his thing. Last year in the first half vs A&M he was pretty awesome. I'd like to see more of that guy.

I don't really feel like Spav is helping him, giving him some potentially easier plays and managing the running game, between big throws that he can often connect with when they aren't expected every other play.

I don't think Lagway himself was a huge problem today. He made some really good throws, and receivers made some great catches to help him out with less great throws. The overall offense was just surge and sputter all day, both running and passing, just not well tuned.

Colorado played like a team that will lose by three TDs or more against Big 12 competition.

I need to see another big leap of jellifying for this team, particular on offense. We have some players, maybe better than we all thought. It needs a lot of fine tuning for this team to put together a bunch of Big 12 wins.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to Bearlysurviving • 3:01p, 9/26/26
Bearlysurviving said:
Disappointing to see the stands completely empty even with a conference win. I get the fan base is jaded but our team needs support. Definitely doesn't look good to the recruits there


The reality is that 7 years of 500 ball does that to people. Best way to cure apathy is to not be consistently mediocre. We won today, but we are still mediocre. Just a game between 2 bottom feeders.
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to Bearlysurviving • 3:03p, 9/26/26
Aranda ball does that to people

It made Roads cheat on his wife
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Delmar 2.0
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 3:03p, 9/26/26
Guitarbiscuit said:
The reality is that 120 years of 500 ball does that to people......

fixed


Welcome to Baylor Football
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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dycbaylor02
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 3:05p, 9/26/26
Guitarbiscuit said:
Bearlysurviving said:
Disappointing to see the stands completely empty even with a conference win. I get the fan base is jaded but our team needs support. Definitely doesn't look good to the recruits there


The reality is that 7 years of 500 ball does that to people. Best way to cure apathy is to not be consistently mediocre. We won today, but we are still mediocre. Just a game between 2 bottom feeders.



Just look at our game day threads. Barely break 20 pages these past few years. Baylor football under Aranda has done an extraordinary job of disenfranchising and slapping the core supporters in the face.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to Danielsjackson114 • 3:06p, 9/26/26
Danielsjackson114 said:
Aranda ball does that to people

It made Roads cheat on his wife


Astounding how many ripple effects mediocre has. I would not have thought it could lead to such debauchery.
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 3:08p, 9/26/26
The dude needed an out

I completely understand
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El Oso
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 3:08p, 9/26/26
What game were you watching? He threw INTs at terrible points in the game, could not hit wide open receivers, and didn't run. He might be hurt, but it's the same **** he did at Florida and he wasn't hurt there. We were sold a product that cannot produce.
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Delmar 2.0
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 3:09p, 9/26/26
dycbaylor02 said:
Just look at our game day threads. Barely break 20 pages these past few years. Baylor football under Aranda has done an extraordinary job of disenfranchising and slapping the core supporters in the face.

NIL, the portal, and the current state of "college football" have a lot to do with it as well. Being honest.
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Big12Fan2024
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3:10p, 9/26/26
Lagway's fate will be determined by the offensive line. If it doesn't get any better, then it will expose many of his weaknesses he's displayed dating back to Willis High: field vision, forced decisions (which result in turnovers), and inaccurate 20+ yard designed throws. There was one stat by the administrator on Florida's board that showed at one point almost 80% of the passes he completed over 15 yards were the result of broken plays (i.e. backyard football) where he essentially was just put in a position to throw it up and hope a receiver came down with the ball, much like several of the balls he threw today.

His strength has always been the zip on the ball on short throws and when you put him in situations where he's firing short slants where he doesn't think he just throws with his athletic talent (like everyone saw in the Auburn game) he can be very accurate and very good. The problem with that right now is that a bad offensive line not only means a weak running game and continous pressure on the QB, but also allows the defensive to creep up and clog those slant lanes. And, obviously, his immobility due to the ankle right now magnifies those issues.

I can see him becoming very effective if the offensive line improves. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how exactly that can or will happen.
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dycbaylor02
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In reply to El Oso • 3:12p, 9/26/26
El Oso said:
What game were you watching? He threw INTs at terrible points in the game, could not hit wide open receivers, and didn't run. He might be hurt, but it's the same **** he did at Florida and he wasn't hurt there. We were sold a product that cannot produce.

I didn't look at last year since he's under a new regime now. I saw spark/energy with the Auburn game that I haven't seen with a BU qb in a while. He hasn't been given a full chance to acclimate in our system so I give him the benefit of the doubt. But I liked what I saw with Auburn. I think he's hurt and it's messing up his overall game.
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CaseyBu72
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3:23p, 9/26/26
Geeezzz…. ESPN doesn't show BU and Colorado score…
Nobody gives a damn about us any more…. Good job Linda and Dave
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