A Refreshing Formula Leads Baylor into Bye Week on a Positive Note
BY Craig Smoak | 365 Sports
Baylor Football kept its head above water with a much-needed win on Homecoming weekend. Now the Bears enjoy their final deep breath and a mild break before the final three-game closing stretch of the 2025 regular season.
Here are a few scattered thoughts on the 5-4 Bears entering a Week 11 open date.
Nature of the Win: I never questioned picking Baylor in this game. Part of that was because of the stakes. The other part was that they’re simply a better team with much better players at key spots. From the fast start onward, it was mostly an enjoyable performance that had to be cathartic for those involved. We need to be realistic about where UCF is overall, but from that standpoint, the Bears did exactly what you would hope they’d do. They handled their business without any real drama, and it was a solid team win, albeit far from perfect.
Fast Start: Touchdown drives on your first two possessions, while forcing a three-and-out and then a turnover on downs on your doorstep? That, ladies and gentlemen, is one heck of a first quarter. And dare I say, a fast start? It was easily the best start to a game all season —since when, overall? I’m not sure off the top and am not in a researching mood, but that’s the type of opening round that gets the fans and the team rolling—a sight for sore eyes.
Connor Hawkins: Kudos to Hawkins for knocking home a 41-yard attempt not long after missing from 46 in the first half. He’s been solid all season, and while you’d have loved for the offense to finish some more drives in the endzone, having Hawkins to bank on for nine points helped keep the Knights out of reach. I will never take for granted a college kicker who’s reliable beyond, like, 30 yards, much less from 40+ regularly.
Passing game: UCF had a solid passing defense on paper, but Sawyer Robertson was good and a multitude of players got touches, including endzone trips for Michael Trigg, Josh Cameron and Kole Wilson. There was the lone turnover when Robertson was pressured, but overall it was a good day against a good defense.
Record-Breaker: Michael Trigg’s 607 yards this season are more than any tight end in Baylor Football history. With one more reception and one more TD catch, Trigg will also take over the sole place of school records for single-season TD and receptions by a tight end. And there are still three games remaining.
Running Game: Unfortunately, Bryson Washington can’t seem to stay healthy this season, especially after such a promising start. Just one of those years, I guess, but it did open the door for young Caden Knighton, and he burst through on Saturday to the tune of his first career 100-yard game—a fun accomplishment and hopefully the first of many to come. The Bears hit 150 yards as a team, which is the baseline for a respectable performance. UCF is strong up front, as evidenced by the nine tackles for loss.
DE-FENSE: Well, that’s more like it, huh? The defense won the day. UCF is far from prolific, but was fresh off a 43-point win over West Virginia. And the Baylor defense was fresh off surrendering 40-plus in back-to-back contests. So, to see that side of the ball handled their business on Saturday, shutting down UCF’s run game and shutting the door late with a pair of interceptions, was refreshing.
Bowl eligibility: The CFP has taken a dent out of the bowl system, without a doubt. And the more teams involved in the playoff race, the less important it will be, for better or worse. It’s notable to get bowl eligible, but not in the way it once meant. Although not reaching eligibility remains a damaging blemish.
Streak-Breaker: UCF’s record of 121-game streak of scoring a touchdown in each game was snapped on Saturday. It’s a somewhat obscure state, but one I’d be happy to have achieved. Saturday was a sorely needed event for the defense. It’s something to build off.
The Offseason: I tend not to look too far ahead, especially in such an unpredictable climate, but things remain unchanged as head coach this offseason. What could this program do to elevate itself? I’ve been asking myself that question recently, and it goes well beyond the generic initial step of landing a stud quarterback in the portal. So, where does the Bears’ investment strategy focus, and how is it divvied up? What can make this team’s leaps and bounds better next year, and actually in the thick of the Big 12 race? I don’t know, but it sounds much harder to do when you’re losing nearly all of your receiving output and an all-conference QB prospect. It was easy enough to sell this 2025 team, given the high hopes surrounding Robertson, Bryson Washington, and the remodeled WR/TE room. But then what? I’d love to hear your thoughts, because there has to be a plan, and I’m just not coming up with a good one myself that doesn’t involve a total overhaul.
Bye Week: I don’t know how needed another open date was, just three weeks removed from the previous bye. But I do know it’s always better to roll into an off day fresh off a win.
Craig Smoak