GAME 2

BAYLOR vs. UTSA

Sept. 9 | 7:00 p.m. CT | McLane Stadium | Waco, Texas
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Game Notes: Baylor | UTSA | Big 12 | Conference USA

STORY LINES
- Baylor faces UTSA for the first time Saturday. The two programs meet at the Alamodome in 2018. The game will be the first of 2017 for the Roadrunners who had their opener against Houston postponed.
- Baylor is playing its 116th season of football and first under Rhule, who completed a successful four-year term at Temple from 2013-16. Baylor holds a 588-558-44 (.512) record all-time.
- Anu Solomon has passed for 460 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT in two career games vs. UTSA (2-0).
- Baylor had 16 players appear in a game for the first time against Liberty, including 11 true freshmen.
- John Lovett's 89 rushing yards are the most by a BU runner in his debut since at least 2000.
- BU had five scoring drives of two minutes or less in the season opener with Liberty.
- Chris Platt leads the Baylor receiving corps with a reception in 7 straight and 13 of the last 14 games.
- The Bears averaged 19.86 yards per pass completion in the opener, fifth-best in FBS.
- Baylor assistant coaches own 37 combined years of NFL experience, the most in college football.
- The Bears averaged 7.47 yards per carry against Liberty, the 10th-best mark in the country.
- Baylor is 14-5 in the $266 million McLane Stadium, with an average scoring margin of +19.4 points.
- The Bears are averaging 46.5 ppg and 572.8 ypg in three-plus years at the riverfront stadium.
- Baylor has the nation's ninth-best home record since 2011 at 33-6, which is the best in the Big 12.
- Baylor is 21-7 vs. in-state schools over last 5+ seasons and has won 14 of last 18 vs. Texas foes.
- Ten of Baylor's 22 starters against Liberty made their first career start in the game.
- Despite three first time starters, the Baylor offensive line did not allow a sack vs. Liberty.
- Baylor's 10.0 tackles for loss during week one ranked behind only TCU's 15.0 TFL among the Big 12.
- Baylor's 39 victories since 2013 are the second-most in the Big 12 behind only Oklahoma (42).
- Just two months on the job, Rhule and his staff signed 27 players in February, a class that ranked 3rd in the Big 12. The Bears signed 20 players from the state of Texas, tops in the Big 12.
- BU has 14 former players on NFL rosters entering the 2017 season, representing 11 different teams.
- The Bears have won 32 of last 40 played in Texas and are 43-11 in the state over last 5+ seasons.
- With Kyle Fuller's selection by Houston in 2017, Baylor has had at least one NFL draft pick for nine straight years. The Bears have had 25 players selected since 2011, including eight offensive linemen in the last nine years.
- Baylor is 68-12 since 2008 when scoring 30 or more points in a game.
- Baylor is 1 of 6 teams currently to appear in a bowl game every year since 2011 and win at least 4 of the 6 bowl games (Boise State, Alabama, Clemson, Texas A&M, Mississippi State).
- The Bears capped the 2016 season with a Cactus Bowl win in their program-record seventh straight bowl appearance. BU had a program record 7+ wins in a season for the 7th straight year in 2016.
- Baylor football has completed more than 900 hours of community service since January 2017.
- Baylor has had seven consecutive seasons with a 1,000 yard rusher including junior Terence Williams (1,048 yds) who is back for 2017 as one of four returning 1K rushers in the Big 12.

UP NEXT
Baylor hits the road for the first time in 2017 next week when it travels to Durham, N.C. to face Duke. The Blue Devils are 1-0 on the year after opening the season witha 60-7 victory over North Carolina Central. David Cutcliffe is in his 10th season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. He holds a 53-61 record in that time. Kick-off for Baylor and Duke is set for 11:30 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by the ACC RSN. Duke won the only previous meeting 12-7 in Durham during the 1958 season.

RHULE'S PLAN TO WIN
In his four-plus seasons as a head coach, Matt Rhule's teams have had tremendous success when reaching specific bench marks both offensively and defensively. Known for putting together strong defensive teams, Rhule's teams have had large amounts of success when hitting a few key offensive checkpoints.

Scoring First 22-8
150+ rushing yards 20-8
Scoring on First Drive 10-1
200+ rushing yards 13-4
Leading at Half 23-6
Scores 30+ points 20-3
Scores 40+ points 7-2

ANU AMONG NATION'S ACTIVE LEADERS
Baylor senior quarterback Anu Solomon entered 2017 as one of the top statistical passers active among all FBS programs. Solomon ranks seventh nationally with 569 career completions, while also ranking eighth nationally in passing yards (7,200) and 10th in the country with 52 career passing touchdowns. He has made 28 starts and played in 31 games in his career. Solomon surpassed 7,000 career passing yards and tossed his 50th career TD pass against Liberty on 9/2. Solomon is 2-0 while at Arizona in two career games against Week 2 opponent UTSA with 460 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT and is 39-of-68 (57.4%) passing.

YOUTH IS SERVED BY BEARS
Baylor opened the 2017 season with four true and redshirt freshmen in the starting lineup (OL Ryan Miller, CB Harrison Hand, LB Jalen Pitre and S Jairon McVea). The Bears had 16 players make their first appearance in a BU uniform, including 13 true and redshirt freshmen. Ten players made their first-ever start for Baylor in the opening week game. Additionally, two transfers Anu Solomon and Jayson Clements had their first Baylor action after playing time at their previous schools. Baylor's 11 true freshman that played ranks sixth nationally and its three true freshman starters in the opener are behind only LSU with four.

SOLOMON IN SEASON OPENERS
Anu Solomon made his fourth career start in a season-opening game in Baylor's 48-45 loss to Liberty. He is 2-2 for his career in season openers. A native of Kalihi, Hawaii, Solomon passed for 1,145 yards (286.3 ypg) with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in the four season-opening games. Solomon's 97 rushing yards vs. Liberty were a career high and the most by a Baylor QB in his first start since at least 2000. He is one of only four quarterbacks nationally to start four season openers (John Wolford, Wake Forest; Tyler Rogers, New Mexico St.; Brandon Silvers, Troy).

LOVETT MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Freshman running back John Lovett opened his Baylor career with a strong performance against Liberty. The New Jersey native rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries, the most yards on the ground by a Baylor running back in his first game since at least 2000. Lovett also added a pair of touchdowns from 3 and 34 yards out. He took over as the primary back once sophomore JaMycal Hasty left due to injury. He's the first Baylor freshman with 2 TD in a game since Nick Florence in 2009.

COMPLETE NOTES