Five Keys to Saturday's Game
9/11/2026 11:46:00 PM | Football
Bears have to approach this game the way they did Auburn
BAYLOR vs. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
- NAMELESS, FACELESS OPPONENT: No, Prairie View A&M is not Auburn. But the defending SWAC champions blew out Texas Southern, 52-14, last week and pushed FCS fourth-ranked Tarleton State in a 49-30 road loss in Zero Week. "I think the key is having the same mentality as Auburn. It's a nameless, faceless opponent," said tight end Hawkins Polley. "It doesn't matter where they come from, what conference they're in, what stadium we're playing them in. We get to go play college football, so we're just as excited about Prairie View as we were about Auburn. It's a chance to prove to th rest of the Big 12 and the rest of the country who we are as a football team. It doesn't matter who we're playing."
- HIS TIME TO SHINE: With starter DJ Lagway expected to miss the game with the sprained ankle that limited him last week, junior quarterback Nate Bennett will get his first start. In limited action as Sawyer Robertson's backup, Bennett has completed 6-of-9 passes for 53 yards. "I feel really good about Nate and (Edward Griffin)," head coach Dave Aranda said. "We have guys that have been here and have invested and know the offense. Each has his particular talent sets. So, we can kind of tweak things and the offense can go in a different direction to utilize the best of their talents."
- LEAN ON THE RUN GAME: Particularly with the inexperience at quarterback, the ideal plan for the Bears would be to establish a better run game than they showed last week. UT transfer Nate Kibble, the starter at left guard, said the offensive line "got better at reading their defense and we learned how to strain for four quarters." Running back Dawson Pendergrass, who picked up 88 yards on 25 carries against Auburn, is "not trying to go around anything," Kibble said. "He can make you miss, but he's a dog. He wants to go through somebody. And I love blocking for a guy like that."
- CONTAIN THE QB RUN: The Panthers' leading rusher is quarterback Tevin Carter, who has thrown for 531 yards and five touchdowns and added 147 yards and two TDs on the ground. Baylor's defense certainly held its own against Auburn, coming up with five sacks, three interceptions and 11 stops behind the line while bottling up quarterback Byrum Brown all night. "We're just trying to focus on keeping our eyes right, playing how we're supposed to play, making no mistakes and just being 1-0," said cornerback Reggie Bush II.
- LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER: As part of Doug McNamee's fan-first emphasis, the 254 Game spotlights the Waco and Central Texas communities. From an extended Bear Walk to the Backyard Live concert with Suede to the discounted concession prices and new menu items and an LED light show, this should be a special night for the Bears and the fans. "I want to show out for the community," said Kibble, who's only been in Waco since January. "Everything I feel has been great from the community, from Meet the Bears to all that, everything has been great. I heard there's four hot dogs and four sodas for ($18.45). That's something I would be all in for."
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