Fourth-Quarter Rally Lifts Streaking Baylor Past K-State, 35-34

Saturday, October 4

Waco, Texas

11 a.m.

Baylor

4-2 , 2-1

Kansas State

2-4 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kansas St.

Baylor

Fourth-Quarter Rally Lifts Streaking Baylor Past K-State, 35-34

10/4/2025 4:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score Game Book Season Stats Highlights Postgame Notes

WACO, Texas -- Baylor football rallied from 14 points down in the final eight minutes to fuel a 35-34 comeback win over Kansas State, the eighth win for the Bears in their last nine Big 12 Conference games, on a sunny Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

Dating back to a six-game win streak to end the regular-season in 2024, the Bears have now won eight of their last nine Big 12 games and have won 10 of their last 13 games. The conference win streak is tied for the second best nine-game league stretch in Baylor history, and Coach Dave Aranda is one of four coaches in program history to lead the Bears to such a stretch, joining Grant Teaff, Art Briles and Matt Rhule.

Trailing 31-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Baylor came alive, mounting an 82-yard scoring drive on just three plays – including a 42-yard strike to tight end Michael Trigg – and a 11-yard TD catch from a gutsy Bryson Washington with 8:50 left in regulation. The Bears used a Sawyer Robertson two-point conversion to cut the lead to six.

On the ensuing drive, Kansas State used a pair of third and long conversions to get to midfield, before facing a third and nine with 5:12 left and a 31-25 lead. Jacob Redding picked off the Avery Johnson offering and rumbled 66 yards for the go-ahead score, putting the Bears up 32-31 with just over four minutes left.

Kansas State (2-4, 1-2 Big 12) then drove 72 yards to get inside the Baylor five-yard line. The BU defense stiffened, getting a tackle behind the line of scrimmage from All-America linebacker Keaton Thomas, and forcing a pair of incomplete passes, including one boosted by a hurry from safety DJ Coleman. That forced a 22-yard field goal from Luis Rodriguez that gave K-State a 34-32 lead with 2:35 left.

Baylor (4-2, 2-1 Big 12 Conference) went to work behind the electric offensive attack that entered the game leading the nation in passing yards. The Bears drove 28 yards on six plays, fighting off a holding call, with key passes to Trigg and Ashtyn Hawkins to get to the K-State 36-yard line with 36 seconds left.

The Bears turned to freshman kicker Connor Hawkins, who drilled a 53-yard field goal – tying his career long – to give BU a 35-34 lead. It tied the longest Baylor field goal by a Bear at McLane Stadium – also done by Hawkins vs. Arizona State in 2025 and Isaiah Hankins against Texas State in 2023.

The Cats had one chance at it, getting the ball back with 31 seconds left. A 16-yard pass and a defensive pass interference helped get K-State to the 38-yard line. Rodriguez attempted a 56-yard field goal but defensive lineman Cooper Lanz got his left mitt on the ball to block the field goal and send the Bears home with the win.

Robertson, the nation's leader in passing yards, passing TDs and passing yards per game entering Saturday, was 25-for-39 for 345 yards and two TDs, also rushing three times. Robertson found Trigg eight times for 155 yards, both career highs in a game that marked the most productive single-game in the history of Baylor football for a tight end.

A game-time decision entering the contest, Washington was able to grind out 65 yards on nine carries, and catch two balls for 18 yards, including the key 11-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Michael Turner carried it seven times for 38 yards and had a 17-yard TD rush, the first of his career.

Josh Cameron had five catches for 49 yards, Hawkins added four for 33 yards and Kole Wilson had three grabs for 50 yards. Kobe Prentice caught his sixth TD of the year – on just 17 catches – as a 30-yard strike in the first half.

The Bears got six tackles from Redding and Devyn Bobby to lead the defense. Thomas and Kyland Reed added five stops and Lanz had three tackles, including a tackle for a loss.

Following an idle week, Baylor will return to action at TCU on Oct. 18 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Johnson and K-State started the scoring with a 75-play drive that saw the QB scamper in from 31 yards out with 9:33 left in the first quarter.

The Bears drove 76 yards on the next possession, with Hawkins connecting from 30 yards out to cut the lead to 7-3 with 4:18 left in the first stanza.

Prentice and Robertson completed a four-play, 70-yard drive with a 30-yard scoring strike to put the Bears up 10-7 midway through the second quarter.

K-State evened the game on a 49-yard field goal from Rodriguez with 4:23 left in the second and Baylor answered with a 75-play scoring drive with a 17-yard TD run from Turner, taking a 17-10 lead.

Kansas State mounted a rally over the final two minutes of the half to even the game at 17 at halftime, with Johnson throwing a nine-yard TD to TE Garrett Oakley.

The second half opened with Kansas State jumping out to a 31-17 lead on the backs of a 97-yard scoring drive, and a 44-yard scoring drive, taking the two-score advantage with 1:15 left in the third.

Baylor's comeback started with the 82-yard drive – with Washington and Robertson hooking up on the 11-yard TD – and Robertson rumbling in for the two-point conversion with 8:50 left in regulation.

Redding's second interception of the year saw him race 66 yards to the end zone to give BU its first lead of the second half.

Baylor collected 25 first downs, threw for 345 yards and rushed for 98 yards as part of a 448-yard game of total offense. Kansas State went for 501 yards of total offense, including 162 yards rushing and 339 through the air. Johnson threw for a pair of TDs on 29-of-45 passing and added 72 yards rushing and a TD.

- BaylorBears.com -