A week after watching Texas Tech give TCU a good scare in Lubbock, No. 5 Baylor (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) left no doubt who the superior team was on the field in Arlington. Baylor jumped all over Texas Tech (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) and never looked in the rearview mirror to see what it left behind. Baylor knocked off Texas Tech 63-35.
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell passed for 286 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 50 yards and a score in the win. Shock Linwood rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns for Baylor. The Bears rolled up 680 yards of offense, while Texas Tech managed to go for 636 yards. Texas Tech’s offense also had four turnovers though, while Baylor was much better at holding the football (one turnover). Baylor was also far more balanced on offense with 368 rushing yards and 312 passing yards. Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns before being replaced by Davis Webb.
A high offensive shootout between these two schools is not to be unexpected of course. The two teams have averaged 98.8 points per game since 2011, and Baylor has scored 60 points three times. Neither team is known for its defense, and that is one of the biggest reasons for some slight concern about Baylor in the ongoing playoff discussion. At some point Baylor will not be able to score at will. What will they do when that happens? Will it cost them?
Baylor now appears to be set up for quite a run in Big 12 play. Next up for Baylor is woeful Kansas, then Baylor take son West Virginia. The Mountaineers were dealt a loss at Oklahoma but have been playing better defense of late. We’ll see just how good that West Virginia defense is. Baylor gets Iowa State after that.