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

58,303 Views | 749 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by FLBear5630
FLBear5630
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In reply to CaseyBu72 • 3:26p, 9/26/26
CaseyBu72 said:
Geeezzz…. ESPN doesn't show BU and Colorado score…
Nobody gives a damn about us any more…. Good job Linda and Dave

Need to knock off someone of consequence.

Knock off ASU, AZ, BYU that will get some attention.
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Quinton
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In reply to Bearlysurviving • 3:28p, 9/26/26
Won't change unless he wins big two years straight or he is removed. Pre 2023 looked fine for the most part before 95% gave up on Dave.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to Quinton • 3:30p, 9/26/26
Quinton said:
Won't change unless he wins big two years straight or he is removed. Pre 2023 looked fine for the most part before 95% gave up on Dave.

He beat Kiffin. That turned heads...
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bear2be2
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In reply to Quinton • 3:34p, 9/26/26
Quinton said:
Won't change unless he wins big two years straight or he is removed. Pre 2023 looked fine for the most part before 95% gave up on Dave.

If we can win eight or more games this year, next year's attendance will be OK. Not great, but much better than this year.

Attendance always lags results by a year. And if we can go 8-4 or better, some excitement will return to the program, as it did after the surprising run to end the 2024 season.
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william
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3:34p, 9/26/26
Go Bears!
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bear2be2
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3:35p, 9/26/26
One big positive today -- maybe the biggest -- is that we didn't take any stupid chances on fourth down.

We were content to play field position football and force Colorado to prove they could drive the length of the field.

With our defense and punter, I think that needs to be the M.O. all year. Our games are likely going to be a race to 24 points. And if we can avoid doing things that make our opponents' path to that number easier, I think our defense and special teams will give us a lot of chances to win games.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 3:37p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
One big positive today -- maybe the biggest -- is that we didn't take any stupid chances on fourth down.

We were content to play field position football and force Colorado to prove they could drive the length of the field.

With our defense and punter, I think that needs to be the M.O. all year. Our games are likely going to be a race to 24 points. And if we can avoid doing things that make our opponents path to that number easier, I think our defense and special teams will give us a lot of chances to win games.

Proud of you today... Calling it like it was even though you don't like Aranda. Mean this as a compliment...
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 3:39p, 9/26/26
I wonder what kinda bs you have been positing on the pay side as Socalbear

You love that loser
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bear2be2
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In reply to FLBear5630 • 3:39p, 9/26/26
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
One big positive today -- maybe the biggest -- is that we didn't take any stupid chances on fourth down.

We were content to play field position football and force Colorado to prove they could drive the length of the field.

With our defense and punter, I think that needs to be the M.O. all year. Our games are likely going to be a race to 24 points. And if we can avoid doing things that make our opponents path to that number easier, I think our defense and special teams will give us a lot of chances to win games.

Proud of you today... Calling it like it was even though you don't like Aranda. Mean this as a compliment...

I always try to be fair. I acknowledge both the positives and negatives and try to be objective about what those likely mean for our team and its trajectory.

I think two of our three phases fall somewhere between pretty good to excellent by Big 12 standards. If we can get the third phase to a serviceable level, I think we'll be better than the doomers think. But the offense has a long way to go based on what we've seen so far.
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historian
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3:46p, 9/26/26
Good win for the Bears
“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 • 3:47p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
FLBear5630 said:
bear2be2 said:
One big positive today -- maybe the biggest -- is that we didn't take any stupid chances on fourth down.

We were content to play field position football and force Colorado to prove they could drive the length of the field.

With our defense and punter, I think that needs to be the M.O. all year. Our games are likely going to be a race to 24 points. And if we can avoid doing things that make our opponents path to that number easier, I think our defense and special teams will give us a lot of chances to win games.

Proud of you today... Calling it like it was even though you don't like Aranda. Mean this as a compliment...

I always try to be fair. I acknowledge both the positives and negatives and try to be objective about what those likely mean for our team and its trajectory.

I think two of our three phases fall somewhere between pretty good to excellent by Big 12 standards. If we can get the third phase to a serviceable level, I think we'll be better than the doomers think. But the offense has a long way to go based on what we've seen so far.

Don't disagree. Just not going to tear clothe over wins. I thought your analysis was dead on and very objective.

I give you **** when you go off, wanted to give you credit when you don't. Was meant as a positive...
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El Oso
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In reply to dycbaylor02 • 4:15p, 9/26/26
You should look at everything not an isolated snapshot. A snapshot that was a horrible game for him by the way.

In that Auburn game he threw a critical INT and fumbled the ball recovered by Auburn.

And his injury was self-inflicted on an idiotic play. You don't hurdle a defender for one yard when that one yard means nothing. The hurdle allowed the second defender to hit him which caused him to miss the landing. He's not situation smart.

I hope he corrects, but he is not off to a good start so far.
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boognish_bear
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4:19p, 9/26/26
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boognish_bear
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4:24p, 9/26/26
Cool Freeman pic

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CaseyBu72
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4:25p, 9/26/26
Nate Bennett needs to replace Lagway for O to be capable of winning….. lag is not what we need to win.
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boognish_bear
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4:26p, 9/26/26
10,000 likes and 350,000 views so far

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bear2be2
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4:27p, 9/26/26
If you want to feel better about our team, go watch some other Big 12 games. The only teams that have really looked good this season are Utah, which isn't on our schedule, and BYU, who is.

I think a lot of our games will go a lot like today's did. They'll be close in the second half, and we'll either find a way to win or find a way to lose. But there's no reason to be afraid of any of the teams on our schedule, save maybe BYU.
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boognish_bear
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4:35p, 9/26/26
This team has its share of warts...starting with the one wearing the headset...but the players showed some real internal fortitude today after seeing that 10 point lead evaporate. Colorado had all the momentum and our D was spent. That showed some real character to not get dejected and to keep on fighting.
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boognish_bear
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4:36p, 9/26/26
TCU 10
UCF 14

Q3

A BU win and TCU loss would make for a very satisfying Saturday.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to bear2be2 • 4:38p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
If you want to feel better about our team, go watch some other Big 12 games. The only teams that have really looked good this season are Utah, which isn't on our schedule, and BYU, who is.

I think a lot of our games will go a lot like today's did. They'll be close in the second half, and we'll either find a way to win or find a way to lose. But there's no reason to be afraid of any of the teams on our schedule, save maybe BYU.

A decent bowl is not out of the question. Maybe more than Armed Forces and Ft Worth...
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bear2be2
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In reply to boognish_bear • 4:40p, 9/26/26
boognish_bear said:
This team has its share of warts...starting with the one wearing the headset...but the players showed some real internal fortitude today after seeing that 10 point lead evaporate. Colorado had all the momentum and our D was spent. That showed some real character to not get dejected and to keep on fighting.

And that's two games in a row where the offense pulled an efficient scoring drive out of its ass after doing nothing for multiple quarters and watching the opponent make a run in the second half.

This offense has lots of warts. But it has proven capable of putting a drive together when it absolutely needs to. It's done so in three of the four games this year.
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whitetrash
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4:42p, 9/26/26
Today's game was kinda like taking a homely girl to prom. Not much to look at, kinda cringey while you are there, but things went well enough that by the end of the night you went home with a smile on your face.
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bear2be2
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4:46p, 9/26/26
TCU looks really beatable this year. That offense isn't much better than Colorado's.
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AC/DC
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4:47p, 9/26/26
I can't pinpoint a specific at the moment, but throughout the game I find myself thinking "why isn't Pendergrass in?" It seems he's in less than the other back or in "situational" times only. To me it clues the opponent's DC were potentially going to run the ball. He's a N/S guy. Can someone explain it to me? Many teams have a bell cow which leaves the opponent guessing.
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Timbear
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In reply to morethanhecouldbear • 5:00p, 9/26/26
morethanhecouldbear said:
The more I watch these flying duck passes, the more I appreciate what Sawyer did for us.

I think he was 13-12 as a starter from 2024-2025. Given the overall team we had, we probably would have been 5-20 without him.

Sawyer was the man.


With respect, he had basically a .500 winning %. I guess at Baylor, that's good.
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Bearsalwayswin
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In reply to Timbear • 5:02p, 9/26/26
if sawyer had this defense it'd be a lot better then that
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boognish_bear
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5:07p, 9/26/26
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FLBear5630
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In reply to whitetrash • 5:16p, 9/26/26
whitetrash said:
Today's game was kinda like taking a homely girl to prom. Not much to look at, kinda cringey while you are there, but things went well enough that by the end of the night you went home with a smile on your face.

Under the covers 5 to 10 lbs don't matter...
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bear2be2
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5:36p, 9/26/26
TCU is going down. UCF has completely bottled up their offense.
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BangorBear
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In reply to BellCountyBear • 5:42p, 9/26/26
BellCountyBear said:
This defense still sucks.
Yea, sacks and tackles for loss! Keen eye you have there, BellCountyBear!
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bear2be2
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In reply to BangorBear • 5:46p, 9/26/26
BangorBear said:
BellCountyBear said:
This defense still sucks.

Yea, sacks and tackles for loss! Keen eye you have there, BellCountyBear!

Anyone who thinks this defense sucks doesn't know ball.

Everything about our defensive resume to date is positive.
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historian
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In reply to boognish_bear • 6:23p, 9/26/26
boognish_bear said:
10,000 likes and 350,000 views so far


That was the best play of the season so far.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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historian
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In reply to boognish_bear • 6:24p, 9/26/26
boognish_bear said:
TCU 10
UCF 14

Q3

A BU win and TCU loss would make for a very satisfying Saturday.

You got your wish
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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historian
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In reply to bear2be2 • 6:29p, 9/26/26
bear2be2 said:
BangorBear said:
BellCountyBear said:
This defense still sucks.

Yea, sacks and tackles for loss! Keen eye you have there, BellCountyBear!

Anyone who thinks this defense sucks doesn't know ball.

Everything about our defensive resume to date is positive.

I would like to see more consistency in the D. They e gone plenty of good or great things in 4 games but they have had too many mistakes and given up too many yards & points, especially vs the cupcakes.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Timbear
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In reply to Bearsalwayswin • 7:52p, 9/26/26
Bearsalwayswin said:
if sawyer had this defense it'd be a lot better then that


Totally agree.
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