10 Thoughts on another brutal loss to TCU and Cincy up next
BY CRAIG SMOAK | 365 Sports
Following a flat-out bad loss in Fort Worth, the Bears head to Ohio, where they’ve won in their only prior trip. However, most predict a different outcome this go-round as they face a confident Cincinnati squad under third-year head coach Scott Satterfield.
Bad Loss: The furious fourth-quarter rally in the Bears’ loss to TCU was briefly thrilling, but ultimately lipstick on a pig. I didn’t think much separated the two teams, and wrongly assumed two weeks of preparation would surely lead to a recharged, sharp showing against an arch-rival. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was a stretched-out, blowout that briefly became interesting in the last couple of laps, only for another disaster to strike in the form of another turnover. Hopes rose only to be crushed moments later.
The Weather Delays: Adding insult to injury, the lightning and rain in Fort Worth not only prolonged the inevitable, but each of the three storm breaks also closely coincided with big TCU moments.
-TCU 65-yd TD run. Rain delay #1. Sit and wait.
-Baylor stopped short on fourth down. Rain delay #2. Sit and wait.
-First play after a third and final (78-minute) delay? TCU TD. Kick in the gut.
Resilience: I will give this team credit for never giving up. Having said that, it’s the bare minimum expectation for any program, except for those on the verge of upheaval or at some extreme disadvantage. The latter, certainly not the case for these Bears. But they haven’t given up on Dave Aranda, either, from all indications, and that’s what many are really looking to see.
The Whole Tale: People who only saw the final score thought they missed another TCU-Baylor shootout classic. They didn’t. Those who stopped watching after the initial rain delay were shocked and befuddled when the final score crossed their screens, and watched the highlights, dumbfounded by how it could have possibly been that close.
Brendan Sorsby: He’s an excellent QB who got some respect, but not enough from a national or conference view in the preseason. The Bearcats’ only big blemish thus far was a season-opening neutral-site loss to Nebraska—a game where Sorsby and the ‘Cats had the ball, time and momentum in their hands on the verge of tying or winning. But a costly interception going deep put them in a 0-1 hole. Since then, he’s thrown zero interceptions in their six subsequent games, all of them wins. The Texas native is legit and deserving of discussion as one of the nation’s best, having just passed the halfway point. H
Sawyer Robertson: Robertson did get his fair share of preseason discussion nationally, including some Heisman buzz. He’s had some good moments this season, but he wasn’t good on Saturday, to state it plainly. And to state it obviously, if he’s not playing well, this team doesn’t stand much of a chance. Any notion of a Heisman campaign is all but squashed with that loss for those still holding onto that slim hope. But I know most are concerned with the team’s results. And the odds of a miraculous 5-0 run where he shreds record books and looks more the part of a dual-threat seem even slimmer. Health could be a factor in some lingering questions, but there’s a shroud of secrecy over such things, which, given the high stakes surrounding him, I understand.
The “Rivalry”: TCU now leads the all-time series 60-53 and returns to the winner’s circle for their fifth win in the last six years, eighth in the previous ten seasons. When Baylor famously took down the Frogs 61-58 on the Brazos in 2014, they grabbed a one-game lead in the all-time series, 52-51-7. Eleven years later, the Bears now trail, 60-53-7, having experienced multiple head coaches, successes, and setbacks on both sides over that time.
The Defense: TCU has one of the better passing attacks in the country, but everyone is having success against this Baylor defense. I could never have imagined running into that issue this frequently, if at all, under Dave Aranda. But here we find ourselves, writing and talking about it weekly, repeating the same thing, and the Bearcats’ offense is no slouch.
The Remainder: There’s a palpable air of discontent surrounding the program’s current standing both in 2025 and in the broader context. Especially in comparison to some of its peers. But also compared to its own expectations, many of which revolved around Big 12 Championship contention. Now, we’re talking about paths to a bowl game.
The Prediction: Cincinnati 38, Baylor 27
Last week, I ultimately made the right call by picking and sticking with TCU. This week, it’s another typical coin flip in the Big 12, really. The Bearcats aren’t unbeatable, but the Bears don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, especially after that showing in Fort Worth.