Baylor still seeking identity entering date with Samford

A week after Baylor stormed back to beat a ranked SMU side, the Bears return home Saturday to face Samford in their final Big 12 tune-up in Waco, Texas.

Baylor (1-1) appeared on the way to a second straight loss to open the season last weekend, trailing 38-24 midway through the fourth quarter. Behind Sawyer Robertson's 440 passing yards and four touchdowns, the Bears rallied to beat the Mustangs 48-45 in double overtime.

The comeback put Baylor in high spirits for practice this week as the Bears looked to sand down the rough edges prior to conference play.

"Trying to still get an idea of an identity and best players and putting them in the best position to succeed," said head coach Dave Aranda. "I think we have all got to get on the same page so we can attack somebody and not have to constantly play ourselves with self-inflicted wounds."

FCS Samford (0-2) heads to Texas after a humbling 40-13 loss to The Citadel last weekend in Southern Conference action. The Bulldogs struggled to hold onto the ball with five turnovers. Of those changes in possession, Quincy Crittendon threw three interceptions on top of his 324 passing yards and team-high 35 rushing yards.

"The biggest thing that I've expressed to Quincy is that the last two games of the (2024) year were probably our best offensive output games against Chattanooga, and then the close defeat to Western Carolina there the last game," said head coach Chris Hatcher.

"He's got to be able to run with a purpose like he did those in those last two games and still be able to be a great point guard out there and spread the ball out with our running backs and receivers."

This will be the third meeting of the programs, with Baylor posting a 48-14 win in 2005 and a 50-12 victory in 2002. Both of those games were played at Waco.

--Field Level Media