‘IN GOD’S HANDS’
9/20/2026 1:41:00 PM | Football
Bennett throws for 253 yards, 3 TDs in Bears’ 36-19 win
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – As an intense competitor that wants to play in the worst possible way, waiting for two years behind Sawyer Robertson wasn't the easiest thing for Baylor junior quarterback Nate Bennett.
"I think everybody on this team came to play at Baylor, to play football," Bennett said. "I've dreamed about this stuff since I was a kid. There is that itch to be out there. You want to be out there. . . . I understand it, but I just kind of released the rope and gave it to God and put it in God's hands. Being ready is difficult when you're not playing. I just try to keep the mindset of, 'Prepare like you're the starter this week. Prepare like you're going to play.'''
Not only has Bennett "prepared to start," he actually got his shot the past two weeks, throwing for a combined 567 yards and six touchdowns while leading the Bears to wins over Prairie View A&M and Louisiana Tech.
After being picked off twice and overthrowing some deep balls in last week's blowout of Prairie View, Bennett was near-perfect on Saturday, completing 21-of-24 for 253 yards and three TDs and adding a 25-yard touchdown run in the Bears' 36-19 win at McLane Stadium.
"As a competitor and a perfectionist and a quarterback, your job is to get the playmakers the ball," he said. "There were times I didn't do that last week. You could say first start or whatever, but I expect to go out there and play big-time football.
"It's just visualizing you making that play. I tried to do that a lot this week. So, praise God I connected (on the deep passes). These guys made my job easy, but I'm thankful I had the opportunity to get it back."
With the Bears already up 14-7, Bennett hooked up with Louis Brown IV on a 51-yard TD pass over cornerback Amari Butler when the receiver made a double move.
"Just seeing he was in man and he was sitting seven yards off, I ran a glance, and he bit really hard. Once I saw that he bit, I was like, 'Oh yeah, I got him!' Just took it upfield, and Nate with his arm talent, dropped it right in the bucket."
While they hadn't repped the route that much during the week, Bennett said offensive coordinator Jake Spavital "is so good with in-game adjustments and just seeing how they're playing squat man."
"We had been running a lot of glances, and we were talking about, 'Hey, man, let's let it fly to Louis,''' Bennett said. "Obviously, if they had played a different coverage, I would have gone back through (my reads). But when I saw Louis give the eyes and pump fake it, I was like, 'We've got it! Just let it fly, give him a chance.' The ball came out of my hand good, and Louis is a big-time receiver, he makes my job easy. But it was fun."
In the second half, Bennett answered a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by Louisiana Tech (1-2) with TD strikes of 43 and 36 yards to Charlotte transfer Jayden McGowan. Complementing slot receiver Gavin Freeman, who ranks among the national leaders with 29 catches, McGowan has hauled in six passes for 159 yards and four TDs.
"He's one of the guys to come back from so much (adversity)," Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said. "For him to have the confidence of making plays, it's really cool to see."
Brown said, "Just seeing (McGowan) grow as the person he is, it's amazing."
"We have all built that connection through it all, and we all trust each other," he said. "The bonding that we did, it all came together. We've got belief and faith in each other. We're going to make it happen."
With starting QB DJ Lagway expected to return this week from a sprained right ankle, Bennett could be back on the sidelines and waiting again.
"When I think about Baylor, yes, football is important. Is Baylor the best place I can develop? 100%," he said. "That's why I stayed. Coach Spav, Coach Rhett (Holcomb), Coach Aranda, people who believe in me here. But there are a lot of other important things, too. The faith community here, my roommates, the people that I've built lifelong relationships, people that'll be in my wedding one day, the family connections, that stuff gets lost."
Completing a three-game homestand, Baylor (2-1) will open conference play against Colorado (2-1) at 11 a.m. next Saturday in a game televised by ESPN or ESPN2. The Buffaloes were blown out by Northwestern, 41-7, in their second road game against a P4 opponent.
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – As an intense competitor that wants to play in the worst possible way, waiting for two years behind Sawyer Robertson wasn't the easiest thing for Baylor junior quarterback Nate Bennett.
"I think everybody on this team came to play at Baylor, to play football," Bennett said. "I've dreamed about this stuff since I was a kid. There is that itch to be out there. You want to be out there. . . . I understand it, but I just kind of released the rope and gave it to God and put it in God's hands. Being ready is difficult when you're not playing. I just try to keep the mindset of, 'Prepare like you're the starter this week. Prepare like you're going to play.'''
Not only has Bennett "prepared to start," he actually got his shot the past two weeks, throwing for a combined 567 yards and six touchdowns while leading the Bears to wins over Prairie View A&M and Louisiana Tech.
After being picked off twice and overthrowing some deep balls in last week's blowout of Prairie View, Bennett was near-perfect on Saturday, completing 21-of-24 for 253 yards and three TDs and adding a 25-yard touchdown run in the Bears' 36-19 win at McLane Stadium.
"As a competitor and a perfectionist and a quarterback, your job is to get the playmakers the ball," he said. "There were times I didn't do that last week. You could say first start or whatever, but I expect to go out there and play big-time football.
"It's just visualizing you making that play. I tried to do that a lot this week. So, praise God I connected (on the deep passes). These guys made my job easy, but I'm thankful I had the opportunity to get it back."
With the Bears already up 14-7, Bennett hooked up with Louis Brown IV on a 51-yard TD pass over cornerback Amari Butler when the receiver made a double move.
"Just seeing he was in man and he was sitting seven yards off, I ran a glance, and he bit really hard. Once I saw that he bit, I was like, 'Oh yeah, I got him!' Just took it upfield, and Nate with his arm talent, dropped it right in the bucket."
While they hadn't repped the route that much during the week, Bennett said offensive coordinator Jake Spavital "is so good with in-game adjustments and just seeing how they're playing squat man."
"We had been running a lot of glances, and we were talking about, 'Hey, man, let's let it fly to Louis,''' Bennett said. "Obviously, if they had played a different coverage, I would have gone back through (my reads). But when I saw Louis give the eyes and pump fake it, I was like, 'We've got it! Just let it fly, give him a chance.' The ball came out of my hand good, and Louis is a big-time receiver, he makes my job easy. But it was fun."
In the second half, Bennett answered a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by Louisiana Tech (1-2) with TD strikes of 43 and 36 yards to Charlotte transfer Jayden McGowan. Complementing slot receiver Gavin Freeman, who ranks among the national leaders with 29 catches, McGowan has hauled in six passes for 159 yards and four TDs.
"He's one of the guys to come back from so much (adversity)," Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said. "For him to have the confidence of making plays, it's really cool to see."
Brown said, "Just seeing (McGowan) grow as the person he is, it's amazing."
"We have all built that connection through it all, and we all trust each other," he said. "The bonding that we did, it all came together. We've got belief and faith in each other. We're going to make it happen."
With starting QB DJ Lagway expected to return this week from a sprained right ankle, Bennett could be back on the sidelines and waiting again.
"When I think about Baylor, yes, football is important. Is Baylor the best place I can develop? 100%," he said. "That's why I stayed. Coach Spav, Coach Rhett (Holcomb), Coach Aranda, people who believe in me here. But there are a lot of other important things, too. The faith community here, my roommates, the people that I've built lifelong relationships, people that'll be in my wedding one day, the family connections, that stuff gets lost."
Completing a three-game homestand, Baylor (2-1) will open conference play against Colorado (2-1) at 11 a.m. next Saturday in a game televised by ESPN or ESPN2. The Buffaloes were blown out by Northwestern, 41-7, in their second road game against a P4 opponent.
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