Five Keys to Saturday's Game
9/25/2026 5:27:00 PM | Football
Bears closer to full strength going into conference opener versus Colorado
BAYLOR vs. COLORADO
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- WELCOME BACK: With quarterback DJ Lagway, wide receiver Jadon Porter, offensive lineman Logan Moore and safety Devin Turner all expected back this week, this is probably as healthy as the Bears have been since the first week of the season. "DJ is my guy," said receiver Jayden McGowan, who has scored a pair of touchdowns in each of the last two games. "We've been close since I got here. I got reps with him a lot going into the first game, and I'm confident in him. He's a great player, a great leader, and I'm really happy where the team is going to go with him in there."
- WIN THE TURNOVER MARGIN: For Colorado, the biggest difference between a one-point win over Georgia Tech in Week 1 and a 41-7 blowout loss to Northwestern last Saturday was turnovers. The Buffaloes didn't turn it over once against the Yellowjackets before coughing it up four times in the road loss to the Wildcats. Baylor's defense has had success, averaging two takeaways per game, but the Bears are actually minus-1 in turnover margin (6-7). "I think (our) turnovers will be limited when we can run the ball better," Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. "Some of the (interceptions) are because we have to throw it. Whereas, if we're running the ball better and the chains are working in our favor, then we can throw it when we need to, not just when we have to."
- GET BETTER PUSH: In Saturday's 36-19 win over Louisiana Tech, Baylor's offensive line did an adequate job blocking when it was "one-on-one, a guy moving another guy." The problem came when the defensive line was doing some twists and stunts. The Bears' final numbers made it look better than it actually was – 165 yards on 44 attempts (3.75-yard average) – but freshman Ryelan Morris picked up 55 of those yards at the end of the game. "When the bullets are flying, and the line is slanting and stunting and all that, we've got to be able to clean that up," Aranda said. "We have to be able to do that, along with moving the guy right in front of you."
- KEEP THE PLAYBOOK OPEN: Assuming that Lagway is closer to 100% on his sprained right ankle, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital needs to use the whole playbook and let the quarterback run. Putting the reins on Sawyer Robertson last year, trying to keep him from getting hurt worse, limited Baylor's options and made the Bears far too predictable. In the two games that Lagway missed, backup QB Nate Bennett scored on touchdown runs of 17 and 25 yards, two of the longest running plays of the year.
- FEED OFF THE CROWD: This one starts with the fans showing up and being excited about the conference opener and the throwback jerseys. Even at 11 a.m., sure, it's going to be hot. But stay hydrated and bring the noise. "It's huge, I think the guys feel it," Aranda said. Linebacker Travion Barnes said it feels amazing "when we run out, just hearing all the fans. It gives the team more energy than we already have, and it just helps guys say, 'It's time to go. Let's do it for the fans.'''
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