The Baylor Bears football team is set to play against the Kansas Jayhawks in a Big 12 homecoming game at the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Both teams are looking to recover from recent defeats, with Baylor coming off a 17-6 loss against their rival TCU and Kansas aiming to bounce back following a 35-24 loss at Kansas State. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, with the game to be televised on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. S1
Baylor, under head coach Dave Aranda, retained their coaching staff despite a 5-7 record last season, influenced in part by the absence of an athletic director at season’s end. In the offseason, the Bears strengthened their coaching with former Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman and added transfer players such as quarterback DJ Lagway, who has family ties to Baylor. S1
Baylor’s season trajectory and team performance
After a narrow opening loss at Auburn, the Bears rebounded with four consecutive wins, including a dominant 55-19 road victory over Arizona State where Lagway threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns. However, following a bye week, their offense struggled significantly in the loss to TCU, notably with a running game combining for only 71 yards on 27 carries and Lagway completing just 22-of-53 passes with an interception. Coach Aranda cited the offensive line’s poor performance as a key factor. S1
Defensively, Baylor has performed strongly this season, holding every opponent under 20 points. They lead the Big 12 in sacks with 22 total, although no individual player has more than three sacks. Their defense also boasts six interceptions and five fumble recoveries, with linebacker Travion Barnes leading the unit in tackles. However, in facing Kansas, the team’s fast-paced approach, running some of the quickest plays in the nation at just over 21 seconds per play, will test both teams’ stamina and depth. S1
Challenges and prospects for the Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas enters this game with a 2-4 overall record and winless in Big 12 play (0-3). Head coach Lance Leipold remains optimistic about his team’s ability to produce explosive offense and improved defense despite recent inconsistent performances. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald has noted that opposing teams now see Kansas as a greater threat following the Jayhawks’ early season promise, which means defenses will adjust and focus more on key players like defensive end Leroy Harris III. S1
Kansas’ defense will need to contain Baylor’s speedy offense and balanced defense. Their linebacker group has faced criticism for underperformance recently and will be critical in limiting Baylor’s run game and pressuring Lagway. Offensively, Kansas struggles with first-down plays were linked to predictable scenarios hindering progress. The team also has a third-down conversion rate around 38.8%, ranking 82nd nationally, and last beat Baylor nearly two decades ago, with Baylor currently holding a fourteen-game winning streak over them. S1
Key factors and game outlook
The game could hinge on Kansas’ ability to generate a more stable running game early downs and defend against Baylor’s fast tempo. Baylor’s offensive line and Lagway’s ability to avoid major mistakes will be essential in advancing the Bears’ attack. Additionally, Kansas is experiencing player lineup shifts, including a redshirt freshman center potentially starting due to injury, which could influence execution in the trenches. S1
Given Baylor’s defensive strength and Baylor’s record against Kansas in recent years, Baylor is favored to win the homecoming day matchup, with expectations of a 24-17 result. Kansas will face difficulty finding consistent offensive production against a Baylor defense led by veteran coaches familiar with the Jayhawks’ tendencies. S1
