The (6-5) Baylor Bears will pay a visit to the (7-4) Texas Longhorns this Friday for one of the last remaining games between these schools as Big 12 opponents. Baylor lost on a last-second field goal to TCU last week, while UT romped to victory over Kansas 55-14. The Longhorns are 8.5-point spread favorites, and the game total is 55.5 points.
Baylor showed it has no quit in it, bouncing back from a 31-3 loss to 19th-ranked Kansas State with a stellar performance against College Football Playoff contender Texas Christian. The end result wasn't what the Bears hoped for, but it should give them a much-needed confidence boost before their finale versus Texas. As painful as it was, there were encouraging signs, especially the touchdowns scored by two freshmen, tight end Kelsey Johnson and running back Richard Reese, in the fourth quarter that put the Bears ahead 28-20. QB Blake Shapen had a solid game (269 passing yards and a score), and junior Craig Williams toted the rock 19 times for 112 rush yards.
Moral victories aside, defending Big 12 champion Baylor has had a disappointing 2022 season. It was ranked in the top ten at the start of the year but lost three of its first six games, including key games versus BYU and Oklahoma State. It did get its season back on track with wins over Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma, but it couldn't keep its momentum against Kansas State. The 28-point rout was a no-show from Baylor, which was tied with KSU and Texas for second place in the Big 12 and in contention for a spot in the conference title game.
Baylor is averaging 34.2 points, 202.7 rushing yards, 240.2 passing yards, and 442.9 total yards per game this season. The top 25 ground game is led by Reese (908 rush yards and 14 TDs) and Williams (530 rush yards and 4 TDs). Sophomore Monaray Baldwin (530 receiving yards and 4 TDs) and senior Gavin Holmes (470 yards and 3 TDs) pace the Bears' pass-catchers. The defense is surrendering 25.5 points per game and 367.5 total yards per game, recording 12 takeaways and generating 19 sacks.
With 56 yards today (and counting), @RichardReese29 now owns Baylor's freshman rushing record ??
And he just scored a TD too ??#SicEm | #PersonOverPlayer pic.twitter.com/RA8ZndO6o8
— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) November 19, 2022