Baylor Football

Game Thread: Baylor Looks to Upset Arizona State in Tempe

Bears face Sun Devils.
By SicEm365 Staff
October 2, 2026
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693 Comments
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SICEM365 GAME THREAD

Baylor at Arizona State

First True Road Game • Big 12 Night Game
Saturday, October 3, 2026 • 9:30 p.m. CT • ESPN
Mountain America Stadium • Tempe, AZ
Records Baylor 3-1 (1-0 Big 12) | Arizona State 2-1 (1-0 Big 12)
Coaches Dave Aranda (Year 7) vs. Kenny Dillingham (Year 4)
Kickoff 9:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. MT / 10:30 p.m. ET
TV ESPN — Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler, Sherree Burruss
Radio John Morris, Geff Gandy, Bryson Jackson • KRZI 1660 AM / 92.3 FM
Stream ESPN / ESPN app • BaylorBears.com radio
Series Arizona State leads 2-0
Last meeting Arizona State 27, Baylor 24 (Waco, Sept. 20, 2025) • Gomez 43-yard FG as time expired
Last game Baylor 23, Colorado 13 (Sept. 26)
Line Arizona State -3.5 • O/U 49.5 • as of Oct. 2

Why This Game Matters

  • First true road game of 2026 (Auburn was a neutral site in Atlanta)
  • Night game in Tempe after ASU’s bye; Sun Devils opened league play with a 24-17 win over Kansas in London
  • Baylor has held all four opponents under 20 points, the longest such streak since 2005
  • DJ Lagway is a week removed from a rusty return: 19-of-39, 221 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT vs. Colorado
  • Initial injury report is clean — no Bears listed doubtful or questionable

Series History

  • Arizona State leads 2-0
  • 1990 in Tempe: ASU 34, Baylor 13 — Baylor’s only previous trip to Tempe
  • 2025 in Waco: ASU 27, Baylor 24 on Jesus Gomez’s 43-yard field goal as time expired
  • ASU this year: W vs. Morgan State, L 48-20 at Texas A&M, bye, W 24-17 vs. Kansas (London)

Keys for Baylor

  1. Survive the environment. Aranda called it loud and electric at night. First conference home night game for a lot of this ASU roster.
  2. Get Lagway on schedule. Efficiency has to jump from the Colorado line. 
  3. Win up front. The ASU offensive line is still searching. ASU’s Cutter Boley (736 yards, 9 TD) is the guy to pressure.
  4. Keep the scoring defense intact. Plenty of bend but don’t break for Baylor in 2026. ASU is built to drive on offense. Be better. 
  5. Finish drives. 23 points against Colorado will not be enough if the Sun Devils get their home offense going. Don’t leave points on the field. 

Players to Watch

Baylor: QB DJ Lagway • RB Dawson Pendergrass • WR Gavin Freeman, Jayden McGowan, Dre'lon Miller • OL Koltin Sieracki • LB Travion Barnes • S Bo Onu, Micah Gifford • DL Hosea Wheeler, Traevon Mitchell

Arizona State: QB Cutter Boley • RB Kyson Brown • WR Reed Harris • K Jesus Gomez • HC Kenny Dillingham

SicEm365 Arizona State week reading

SICEM365
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Dave Aranda Game Thread Kenny Dillingham Baylor-Arizona State Baylor at Arizona State Football Arizona State Baylor 2026
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Discussion from...

Game Thread: Baylor Looks to Upset Arizona State in Tempe

74,051 Views | 693 Replies | Last: 7 days ago by boognish_bear
EatMoreSalmon
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12:19p, 10/2/26
Sic 'em.
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Delmar 2.0
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1:18p, 10/2/26
Just win Bears!
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Bear2014
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2:11p, 10/2/26
i dont know what to think of this game.. I expect a close one in Tempe, but we gotta get DJ running and not just throwing the ball in hopes of someone catching it.
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DAC
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2:49p, 10/2/26
I hope they come out playing in the first half. Been workin all week and don't see anyway I stay up for the second half
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ImABearToo
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3:32p, 10/2/26
Would be great if the Bears could play with some fire and put a whopping on ASU. Wish I had enough confidence in them to think that's possible. Sic ASU anyway!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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Shakesbear
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5:08p, 10/2/26
First true road game is a joke! 80% of Auburn grads work in Atlanta, which is a 1.5 hour drive from Auburn. Stadium was 99% Auburn vs 1% Baylor. The ASU game will be our 2nd "true" road game!!
Retreat Hell! We just got here! The 2/5
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Delmar 2.0
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7:12p, 10/2/26
the stupid has migrated

how can this be?
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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AC/DC
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10:49a, 10/3/26
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please…
A. Fast. Start!! Take. Control. Of. The. Game.
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FLBear5630
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In reply to Shakesbear • 10:51a, 10/3/26
Shakesbear said:
First true road game is a joke! 80% of Auburn grads work in Atlanta, which is a 1.5 hour drive from Auburn. Stadium was 99% Auburn vs 1% Baylor. The ASU game will be our 2nd "true" road game!!

Anytime a team comes into the South, it is a road game...
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FLBear5630
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In reply to ImABearToo • 10:52a, 10/3/26
ImABearToo said:
Would be great if the Bears could play with some fire and put a whopping on ASU. Wish I had enough confidence in them to think that's possible. Sic ASU anyway!

I don't need fire, just good sound execution. Good tackling. I will take a quiet professional-like team any day. Just finish each play and win...
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Dia del DougO
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10:58a, 10/3/26
Not complaining about the Baylor game time, because I'm more of a night owl anyway. Way better than 11AM and no conflicts, since I have near zero social life.

But overall, crappy football day.

Normally I would be hitting a trail somewhere looking for birds and nature photo opps, but is soaking and major sloshy all over.

Gonna be a longass day.

Glad Baylor didn't host a home game at McLane today.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to ImABearToo • 11:03a, 10/3/26
ImABearToo said:
Would be great if the Bears could play with some fire and put a whopping on ASU. Wish I had enough confidence in them to think that's possible. Sic ASU anyway!

Devils are in their element in fire. Baylor should activate polar bear ice power and freeze them solid.


"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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BellCountyBear
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11:07a, 10/3/26
Hopefully Dave will let the team take a nap this afternoon.
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Dia del DougO
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11:13a, 10/3/26
I expect a close game, throw away whatever the spread is, I don't know.

It will come down to those few plays, bounces of the ball, penalties, turnovers, crucial game decisions.


"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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11:36a, 10/3/26
This kind of feels like an inflection point game for the momentum of the program. If they lose tonight it will just feel like we are heading into another meh BU season.

If we win this one and move to 4-1 and 2-0 in conference with TCU coming to McLane I think we could start to see a little excitement around this team for the first time in what feels like forever.
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bear2be2
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In reply to boognish_bear • 12:00p, 10/3/26
boognish_bear said:
This kind of feels like an inflection point game for the momentum of the program. If they lose tonight it will just feel like we are heading into another meh BU season.

If we win this one and move to 4-1 and 2-0 in conference with TCU coming to McLane I think we could start to see a little excitement around this team for the first time in what feels like forever.

I agree completely. If we win this game, we could legitimately go on a 2024 type run with our upcoming schedule.

None of the next four after this will be easy but all are imminently winnable. And the more we win ourselves, the better our players start to feel they are. Once teams think they're good and start playing with that swagger, they can actually start to build some momentum.
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Mitch Blood Green
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In reply to AC/DC • 12:13p, 10/3/26
AC/DC said:
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please…
A. Fast. Start!! Take. Control. Of. The. Game.


You wanted some JB?

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AC/DC
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In reply to Mitch Blood Green • 1:53p, 10/3/26
Mitch Blood Green said:
AC/DC said:
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please…
A. Fast. Start!! Take. Control. Of. The. Game.


You wanted some JB?





Testify!!!
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william
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2:07p, 10/3/26
slice it thin, bruin men.

- UF

D!
Go Bears!
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BarryMcBear
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4:58p, 10/3/26
Still haven't played anyone with a pulse, expect more of the same tonight.
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Quinton
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5:01p, 10/3/26
Just seeing the results of some of these games. If Dave can win tonight, league contention is kind of there for the taking. Full of squarely mediocre teams outside of the Utah teams and a decent to solid Tech team.

I really think Klanderman would probably get us to 9 wins but dont trust Dave to manage anything.
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to BarryMcBear • 5:49p, 10/3/26
Dave is a loser in a mediocre conference
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 6:10p, 10/3/26
Dia del DougO said:
Not complaining about the Baylor game time, because I'm more of a night owl anyway. Way better than 11AM and no conflicts, since I have near zero social life.



OK, I'm complaining a little bit.

Today has been boring AF. Don't much care about any other football today. It was really hard to kill most of the day when the mud and rain makes it hard to to anything outside.

"Complain...so much easier" - King's X
"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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In reply to BarryMcBear • 6:19p, 10/3/26
BarryMcBear said:
Still haven't played anyone with a pulse, expect more of the same tonight.


Welcome to the B12
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Youre a clown
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In reply to Danielsjackson114 • 6:35p, 10/3/26
Danielsjackson114 said:
Dave is a loser in a mediocre conference


I was just thinking today that a six or seven win team in today's big 12 would be like a four or five win team in the big 12 circa 2010. No more UT, no more A&M, no more Nebraska back when they were good, no more Oklahoma back when they were good….

8 wins in the modern big 12 is the new 6 wins.
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AC/DC
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In reply to boognish_bear • 6:51p, 10/3/26
boognish_bear said:
BarryMcBear said:
Still haven't played anyone with a pulse, expect more of the same tonight.


Welcome to the B12


I'm really finding it harder and harder to tune into any Big 12 game when there are so many other interesting match ups. I try, but don't stay long I just start flipping channels.
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Youre a clown
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In reply to AC/DC • 6:58p, 10/3/26
It's a conference with no identity because of a lack of historic and regional rivalries. People can act like they don't miss Baylor playing A&M, UT, or Oklahoma, but those were interesting matchups that "Joe Waco" "Joe Dallas" "Joe Houston" always looked forward to. No one cares about watching Houston play Central Florida or Baylor play Arizona State except for fans/Alumni of those two schools.

Heck, what's the most interesting potential matchup in the big 12 right now? Cincinnati and Texas Tech? I'm sorry, that just doesn't move the needle
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AC/DC
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In reply to Youre a clown • 7:23p, 10/3/26
Youre a clown said:
It's a conference with no identity because of a lack of historic and regional rivalries. People can act like they don't miss Baylor playing A&M, UT, or Oklahoma, but those were interesting matchups that "Joe Waco" "Joe Dallas" "Joe Houston" always looked forward to. No one cares about watching Houston play Central Florida or Baylor play Arizona State except for fans/Alumni of those two schools.

Heck, what's the most interesting potential matchup in the big 12 right now? Cincinnati and Texas Tech? I'm sorry, that just doesn't move the needle


Sad, but true.
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historian
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7:31p, 10/3/26
The B12 still has historic rivalries: the Kansas schools, the Arizona schools, the Utah schools, Revivalry, Farmeggedon, maybe Baylor v Tech, & maybe Colorado v other former P12 teams.

In theory, some of the old rivalries with ooc schools can be revived: I enjoyed the Backyard Brawl games from recent years, it was nice to see the Border War (would be nicer if Kansas won), and I would like to see Bedlam restored. Obviously, those revelries depend on both schools being interested. It would be particularly cool to have most of those played on thanksgiving weekend but maybe it's enough to see them scheduled.

I think the Backyard Brawl is scheduled in the near future. I don't know about any others.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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historian
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7:33p, 10/3/26
TCU scored a TD late in the half to tie the game. Second half should be interesting.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Dia del DougO
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In reply to Youre a clown • 7:40p, 10/3/26
Youre a clown said:
It's a conference with no identity because of a lack of historic and regional rivalries. People can act like they don't miss Baylor playing A&M, UT, or Oklahoma, but those were interesting matchups that "Joe Waco" "Joe Dallas" "Joe Houston" always looked forward to. No one cares about watching Houston play Central Florida or Baylor play Arizona State except for fans/Alumni of those two schools.

Heck, what's the most interesting potential matchup in the big 12 right now? Cincinnati and Texas Tech? I'm sorry, that just doesn't move the needle

The loss of some consistent regionality is definitely one of the top things that destroyed college football.
"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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7:40p, 10/3/26
Guess we will see how the second half of both games look…but right now TT and BYU looking far from being heads and shoulders above the B12 pack.
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AC/DC
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In reply to historian • 7:42p, 10/3/26
historian said:
TCU scored a TD late in the half to tie the game. Second half should be interesting.


If the toads can make the BYU game competitive or win, it'll be a guaranteed loss for BU.
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bear2be2
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In reply to AC/DC • 7:50p, 10/3/26
AC/DC said:
historian said:
TCU scored a TD late in the half to tie the game. Second half should be interesting.


If the toads can make the BYU game competitive or win, it'll be a guaranteed loss for BU.

Not really. All it means is that we likely match up better with BYU than we think.

TCU is a lot like us so far, stout defensively and questionable at best on offense.

But their ability to shut down BYU's run game has allowed them to completely bottle up BYU's offense. We have the defense to do that same thing.

As for the TCU game, we'll probably be looking at something like a 17-14 game one way or the other. Neither offense is likely to do much against the opposing defense.
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AC/DC
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In reply to bear2be2 • 7:56p, 10/3/26
bear2be2 said:
AC/DC said:
historian said:
TCU scored a TD late in the half to tie the game. Second half should be interesting.


If the toads can make the BYU game competitive or win, it'll be a guaranteed loss for BU.

Not really. All it means is that we likely match up better with BYU than we think.

TCU is a lot like us so far, stout defensively and questionable at best on offense.

But their ability to shut down BYU's run game has allowed them to completely bottle up BYU's offense. We have the defense to do that same thing.

As for the TCU game, we'll probably be looking at something like a 17-14 game one way or the other. Neither offense is likely to do much against the opposing defense.


History hasn't been kind to BU/toads. Last 15 or so years BU hasn't fared well.
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