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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – Nov. 25, 2024<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Pair of Streaking Teams Collide in Waco on Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Baylor to Face Blistering Hot Kansas on Saturday at McLane Stadium<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For more information contact: </b>Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651,
<a href="mailto:brent_ingram@baylor.edu">brent_ingram@baylor.edu</a><u> </u> or Max Calderone; 254-265-1639,
<a href="mailto:max_calderone@baylor.edu">max_calderone@baylor.edu</a> or Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720,
<a href="mailto:josie_hutton@baylor.edu">josie_hutton@baylor.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>WACO, Texas --</b> A pair of the nation’s hottest college football teams square off on Saturday at McLane Stadium, as Baylor hosts Kansas at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The game will be televised by ESPN2, with Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline) calling the action. For Baylor, the Voice of the Bears, John Morris (play-by-play), and former BU greats J.J. Joe (analyst)
and Ricky Thompson (sideline) will have the call. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baylor (7-4, 5-3 Big 12 Conference) enters the game riding a five-game winning streak, the longest streak since ending the year with five straight wins in 2021. Baylor’s five-game streak against Big 12 foes is its longest since 2019. Meanwhile
the red-hot Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) will be playing for bowl eligibility on Saturday and are in the midst of four straight games vs. ranked opponents and have won three straight.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SCOUTING THE JAYHAWKS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Kansas comes into the game with the Bears seeking to earn bowl eligibility while in the midst of one of the best stretches in college football in 2024. The Jayhawks have won three straight to get to 5-6 and 4-4 in Big 12 play, with its
wins coming vs. No. 17 Iowa State (45-36), at No. 7 BYU (17-13) and vs. No. 16 Colorado (37-21). This matchup snaps a stretch of four straight KU games against a ranked opponent.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Kansas averages 30.8 points per game, averaging 413.7, with 211.5 yards rushing and 202.3 yards passing per game. Defensively, KU averages 24.3 points per game allowed, surrendering 373.5 yards per game, allowing 232.6 passing and 140.8
rushing. KU ranks third in the country in third-down conversion percentage (51.5), also ranking 16th in fewest penalties, third in red-zone offense, 14th in rushing offense, and 24th in passes intercepted.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• JB Brown leads the team with 66 tackles, 8.5 for a loss and four sacks. Mello Dotson has five interceptions and Cobee Bryant has four. RB Devin Neal is one of the nation’s best running backs, toting the rock 199 times for 1,133 yards
with 15 TDs. QB Jalon Daniels is an elite dual threat, rushing for 402 yards and six TDs, while throwing for 2,174 yards on 156-of-277 passing with 14 TDs and 10 interceptions. Luke Grimm has 48 catches for 617 yards with six TDs. Neal ranks 17th in the nation
in rushing yards and 10th in rushing TDs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• After going 2-10 and 1-8 in 2022 in Coach Lance Leipold’s first season, the Jayhawks have put together three consecutive competitive seasons. KU went 6-7 with a loss in the Liberty Bowl in 2022, 9-4 in 2023 with a win in the Guaranteed
Rate Bowl, before going 5-6 in 2024. KU is 22-27 under Leipold, who went 37-33 in six years with Buffalo, following a historic career at his alma matter Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2007-14. Leipold grew as a coach over stints at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1987,
88 and 90, before a three-year tenure as the GA at Wisconsin (1991-93) and time at Nebraska-Omaha (1994-2000, 2004-06) and Nebraska (2001-03). While at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold was a six-time national coach of the year, leading the team to the 2007, 2013
and 2014 Division III National Championship. His squad went 45-0 over a three-season span.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• OC Jeff Grimes is the assistant head coach and is in his first season after leading Baylor’s offensive attack the last three years. Jim Zebrowski is the co-offensive coordinator and Brian Borland is the defensive coordinator. Taiwo Onatolo
is the special teams coordinator and DK McDonald is the co-defensive coordinator. Chris Simpson is the assistant head coach.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>GOING BOWLING<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The win at West Virginia marked a bowl eligibility milestone for the Bears, giving Baylor bowl berths in 12 of the last 15 seasons and in three of five seasons under Coach Dave Aranda.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The 2024 bowl game will be the 27th all-time for the Bears, with its bowl history starting in 1948 at the Dixie Bowl. It will be Baylor’s first bowl since the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, with Aranda also leading the Bears to the 2021 Sugar
Bowl win over Ole Miss. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FIVE-GAME WIN STREAK<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor is riding a five-game winning streak, its most since 2021, entering the Houston matchup, seeking its first six-game streak since 2019. The five-game win streak vs. Big 12 teams is its most since 2019.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The five-game streak includes a furious offensive attack that ranks among the nation’s leaders.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SERIES HISTORY<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor leads the all-time series with Kansas, 18-4, including a 11-0 mark in games played in Waco.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears have won 13 straight meetings with KU, with the last loss coming in 2007 in Lawrence, a 58-10 Kansas win.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• During the 13-game win streak vs. KU, BU has outscored Kansas 603-159, or an average score of 46.4-12.2.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>LAST MEETING<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor used a powerful running game to post a 2022 homecoming win over upstart Kansas, stretching BU’s win streak to 13 straight against the Jayhawks. The Bears owned a 28-3 lead at halftime behind TDs from Monaray Baldwin, Richard Reese,
Kyron Drones and Jordan Nabors. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Making his first-career start, Reese rolled to career highs in rushes (31) and yards (186), while finding paydirt twice. He capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a two-yard tote to push Baylor’s lead to 12 points with 2:37 left in the
fourth quarter, solidifying the win after Kansas had scored 20 unanswered to open the second half.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Shapen threw for 164 yards and a score on a windy day that made passing a challenge. BU also got 71 yards rushing on nine carries from Qualan Jones.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2021 MEETING<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor earned a 45-7 win over Kansas in 2021 in Lawrence, routing the Jayhawks for a 12th-straight win over KU with 31 unanswered second-half points to pull away from a 14-7 halftime margin.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears rolled to 576 yards of total offense and held KU to just 166 yards, including 57 yards through the air and 109 on the ground. BU surrendered just eight first downs.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• QB Gerry Bohanon threw for 269 yards and two TDs on 19-of-23 passing, while adding a nine-yard TD rush in the fourth quarter and extended the lead to 35-7. Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner combined for 198 yards on 28 carries, with Smith
going for 122 yards on 16 carries. RJ Sneed had six catches for 128 yards and a score. Ben Sims added a TD catch, with Taye McWilliams adding a TD rush.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>CONNECTING THE TEAMS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor’s offensive attack was led in 2021-23 by current Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who runs the “RVO” attack, Reliable, Violent, Offense and helped lead the Bears to the 2021 Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl Title. Grimes
will be facing off with his son, Baylor three-year starting long snapper Garrison Grimes, who is regarded as one of the top long snappers in the country. Garrison’s brother and Jeff’s youngest son, Greydon is a freshman offensive lineman for the Jayhawks.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor ranks among the best offenses in college football over the last two months, checking in No. 11 in the nation in yards per game (461.17) - and third among power-4 schools - No. 6 in yards per play (6.81) - and third among power-4
schools - and eighth in college football in points per game (40.8). Among power-4 schools, Baylor ranks third in points per game.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> NCAA Yards Per Game (October/November)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 1. UTSA - 507.16<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2. Miami (Fla.) - 504.7<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 3. New Mexico - 504<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 4. Utah State - 490.71<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 5. Texas State - 479.29<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 6. North Texas - 478.67<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 7. Clemson - 477.29<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 8. Jacksonville State - 472.57<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 9. Ole Miss - 470.5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 10. SMU - 465<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 11. Baylor - 461.17<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> NCAA Yards Per Play (October/November)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 1. New Mexico - 7.49<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2. Notre Dame - 7.08<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 3. SMU - 6.94<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 4. Miami (Fla.) - 6.89<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 5. Baylor - 6.81<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 6. Texas State - 6.74<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 7. Kansas - 6.72<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 8. Penn State - 6.63<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 9. Oregon - 6.61<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 10. Ole Miss - 6.56<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> NCAA Points Per Game (October/November)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 1. Notre Dame - 44.5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2. Tulane - 43.5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 3. UTSA - 42.17<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 4. Jacksonville State - 41.29<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 5. Miami (Fla.) - 40.83<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 6. East Carolina - 39.17<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 7. Boise State - 37.43<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 8. Baylor - 37.33<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 9. Utah State - 37.14<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 10. Memphis - 36.83 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SLAYING BIG 12 DRAGONS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Only three times in its history in the Big 12 Conference has Baylor had a season with wins over TCU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, which the Bears have done in 2024.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor also did this in 2014 and 2019. Only 17 times since the formation of Baylor football in 1899 have the Bears beaten TCU and Texas Tech in the same season, also doing so in 1942, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1963, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985,
1986, 1989, 1990 and 1995. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Baylor win at West Virginia also snapped a winless stretch in Morgantown for the Bears, who had lost six straight to open the series with the Mountaineers.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• By virtue of the win at Houston, the Bears swept the Big 12 Texas schools.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>RUSH OFFENSE CORNER TURNED<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor’s rush offense struggled early in the year as the Bears adapted to a new offensive scheme, broke in a youthful group at tailback and offensive line, and faced a stout collection of opposing defenses. Over the last four games, Baylor
has broken out, rushing for 1,038 yards in wins at Texas Tech, vs. Oklahoma State, vs. TCU and at West Virginia.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor rushed for 257 yards vs. TCU, 343 yards in the win over Oklahoma State, 255 yards in the rout at Texas Tech, totaling10 rushing TDs over the three-game stretch and 7.43 yards per carry. The 343 yards rushing vs. OSU marked the
most in a game vs. a Big 12 foe since 2016. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• It marked the first time since 2015 that Baylor has had three-straight games with 250 yards rushing against Big 12 opponents.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>ROBERTSON CLAIMS QB1<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• After Dequan Finn suffered an injury in the loss at No. 11/11 Utah, Baylor has turned to QB Sawyer Robertson in the signal caller role and the junior has starred, securing the job as the BU starting quarterback.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Robertson, a 6-foot-4 native of Lubbock, Texas, joined the Bears for the spring of 2022 and served as a part-time starter in 2023 in relief of injured QB Blake Shapen, starting games vs. No. 12/12 Utah, Long Island, No. 3 Texas and the
season finale vs. West Virginia. After Finn was brought in via the transfer portal, Robertson did not win the job in a battle for the gig in the spring and summer but remained the consummate leader on the team and the moment the redshirt junior’s name was
called, stepped up. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SAWDOG ON FIRE<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor junior Sawyer Robertson has been one of the top performing quarterbacks in the nation since taking over the job in week 3.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• He ranks sixth nationally and first in the Big 12 in QB rating.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• A native of Lubbock, Robertson had a thrilling homecoming to his native land in week 8, throwing a career-high five TD passes in a rout of the Red Raiders, 59-32. He was named to the Davey O’Brien Trophy QB of the Year Midseason Watch
List, tabbed Big 12 Player of the Week, and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week following the beatdown in Lubbock.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Over his last 10 starts - dating back to the season finale vs. West Virginia last year - Roberts has charted QBR totals of 80+ in seven games. Healthy for the first time in that WVU game in 2023, Robertson threw for 215 yards and a score
on 17-of-19 passing for 215 yards, with 15 carries for 33 yards, with an 80.0 QBR.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FUGAR MOVES TO LEFT TACKLE, O-LINE SOARS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• A key ingredient to Baylor’s five-game win streak and turnaround from a 2-4 start to the season has been the improvement of the youthful offensive line. An element of that improvement has clearly been the move of South Carolina transfer
Sidney Fugar from a rotational piece at left guard to the starting left tackle. He moved to left tackle in a loss vs. BYU and earned the starting job at Iowa State, locking down the job since.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Since Fugar - a 6-foot-5, 341-pound native of Maryland - has started the last five games, the Bears are averaging 40.8 points per game, including 488.4 yards of total offense, 265 passing and 223.4 rushing.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor has moved to No. 31 in fewest sacks allowed on the season nationally, and No. 7 in fewest tackles for a loss allowed.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT, ROLLS HOUSTON<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor used a stiff defense to post a 20-10 win at Houston to win its fifth straight. The Bears allowed only three points defensively, as UH used a pick-six to score its lone touchdown.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears totaled 325 yards of total offense, with 204 passing and 121 rushing. UH was held to just 239 yards of offense, with 92 rushing.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor got two TD passes from Sawyer Robertson, finding Michael Trigg - who had four catches for 96 yards - while also finding Ashtyn Hawkins, who had a team-high six catches.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>UP NEXT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor will advance to the postseason, with results from Saturday dictating the Big 12 Championship Game and a bowl berth announced on Dec. 8.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>ROAD CONFERENCE WIN RECORD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor has three wins on the road in conference play in 2024, just its seventh all-time three-road win season in league action.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor has won three or more road games in league play only seven times (2024, 2022, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013) in the last 30 years and only six times in its history in the Big 12 Conference, which dates back to 1996.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears went through a 37-game stretch from 1995-2005 without a road conference win, going 0-4 in every year from 1996-2004. Baylor was 2-50 in road conference games from 1996-2008.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>B-WASH EMERGING<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Redshirt freshman tailback Bryson Washington is having a breakout season in 2024. After sitting out the first two games of the year with an injury - and missing most of 2023 with an injury - Washington has emerged as an elite running
back threat. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• A native of Franklin, Texas, Washington leads the team with 142 carries and 812 yards, including 10 TDs. He has become a threat in the pass game as well, catching 21 balls for 203 yards. Washington, a 6-foot, 203-pound bruiser had a two-TD
game at Texas Tech in a rout, rushing for 116 yards on just 10 carries. He then went for 196 yards on 26 carries in the win over TCU, totaling four TDs and adding two catches for 22 yards. Over his eight games in 2024, Washington is averaging 112.6 all-purpose
yards per game. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week - for the second time in 2024 - following the four-TD outing, which marked the most TDs for a Bear since 2011 and his 196 yards on the ground marked the most since 2016. He followed that TCU win with
another four-TD outing, including three on the ground and one receiving, going for 123 yards rushing at WVU.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Washington had a decorated prep career at Franklin High School, where he led his club to 32 straight wins and consecutive 3A State Championships. A four-year starter, he had over 2,000 yards and 30 TDs as a senior.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b>NCAA Freshman Rushing Leaders<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> Rank Player Rushes Yards TDs<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 1. Ahman Hardy, ULM 209 1,179 12*<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2. Isaac Brown, Louisville 121 896 9<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 3. Bryson Washington, Baylor 142 812 10*<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 4. Fluff Bothwell, South Ala. 105 751 11*<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 5. Bill Davis, Lousiana-Lafayette 133 699 8<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> * 10 rushing TDs ranks fourth among freshmen (Joseph, ODU also has 11)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIOS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor remains alive for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The first step is Baylor must win vs. Kansas on Saturday. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Beyond a Baylor win, the Bears need Arizona to beat Arizona State. Then two of these three results must happen to get the Bears in the title game: Kansas State wins at Iowa State, Oklahoma State wins at Colorado and Houston wins at BYU.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>ELITE SPECIAL TEAMS UNIT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• According to the 2023 FEI Rankings via BCFToys.com, Baylor finished the year with the top-ranked special teams unit in college football and ranks No. 5 entering the UH matchup. A combination of kickers Isaiah Hankins and Connor Hawkins,
kickoff specialist Jack Stone, punter Palmer Williams, long snappers Garrison Grimes and Dylan Schaub, and returners Josh Cameron, Jamaal Bell and Richard Reese, helped the Bears lead the FEI special teams rankings.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• FEI Special Teams Ratings (SFEI) are opponent-adjusted possession efficiency data representing the scoring advantage per non-garbage possession a team’s non-offensive and non-defensive units would expect to have on a neutral field against
an average opponent.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>NATION’S EIGHTH-LONGEST WIN STREAK<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor’s five-game win streak ranks tied for the nation’s eighth longest and third among power-4 schools and Notre Dame.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b>School Win Streak<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Oregon 11<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Notre Dame 9<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Boise State 9<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> SMU 8<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Tulane 8<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Jack. St. 8<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Miami (Ohio) 6<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Baylor 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Ohio State 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> South Carolina 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Marshall 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Bowling Green 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>THE SPAV EFFECT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has had a drastic impact on the production of the Bears offensive attack in just 11 games. Below is a comparison of the 2023 season vs. Spavital’s first year in Waco.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Under Spavital, Baylor has improved its total offense by a rank of 28 spots in the NCAA stats, from 377.8 yards per game in 2023 to 419.2 yards per game in 2024.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• In the analytic stats, Baylor has improved its FEI Offensive Rating by 56 points and an increase in 69 spots in the ratings. The Bears head into the matchup at Houston ranked No. 21 nationally in FEI offensive rating. The Bears are also
up to No. 27 in the SP+ ESPN Offensive Ratings, after sitting at No. 78 last year. The BetaRank Offensive Rating has improved 77 spots to No. 12.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>INSIDE LINEBACKERS MAKING HISTORY<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor’s inside linebacker duo of Matt Jones and Keaton Thomas have been elite in 2024, ranking 1 and 2 in tackles. Nationally, Thomas ranks 22nd in tackles and Jones 31st. There have been four linebacker duos in Baylor since 2016 with
80+ tackles each:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Year Linebackers (Tackles)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2016 Aiavion Edwards (98), Taylor Young (93)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2017 Terrel Bernard (112), Jordan Williams (89)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2021 Terrel Bernard (106), Dillon Doyle (89)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 2024 Keaton Thomas (100), Matt Jones (94)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>- BaylorBears.com -<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none">Brent Ingram</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">|
Associate AD for Communications</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Baseball Sport Program Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">C: 210-845-8651</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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