Around the Region: Baylor picks up the pieces while TCU braces for undefeated showdown

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Brandon Wade/AP/Shutterstock (13434450bc) Head coach Sonny Dykes argues a call during an NCAA football game against Oklahoma, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 55-24 OKlahoma TCU Football, Fort Worth, United States – 01 Oct 2022

Around the Region: Baylor picks up the pieces while TCU braces for undefeated showdown

#13 TCU HORNED FROGS (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Last Week: Won 38-31 at #19 Kansas

This Week: vs #9 Oklahoma State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Game Time: 2:30pm CT

TV/Radio: ABC/WBAP 820 AM

While football fans in the Big 12 have become used to one team from Texas and one from Oklahoma battling it out at the top of the conference standings, most of them may not have imagined it would be TCU and Oklahoma State sitting at 5-0 heading into their mid-October matchup. The Horned Frogs have been a dominant force on offense this season, scoring more than 38 points in every game they’ve played and averaging 46.5 points per game in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State represents the toughest adversary they’ve seen this season, an offense ranking eighth in the nation averaging more than 45 points per game. The Cowboys are led by quarterback Spencer Sanders, a four-year starter with 52 passing touchdowns since arriving in Stillwater in 2019. TCU was embarrassed on their trip to Oklahoma State last season, falling 63-17 while allowing an insane 35 first downs and 682 yards of offense to the Cowboys. The Frogs will certainly have revenge on their minds in front of a raucous crowd this year, and have the offense to keep pace in what should be a classic Big 12-style shootout in Fort Worth. TCU leads the country in yards per play, and quarterback Max Duggan has played close to perfect football this year with 14 passing touchdowns and only one interception on the season. 

BAYLOR BEARS (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)

This Week: Lost 43-40 at West Virginia

Next Week: vs #19 Kansas

Baylor headed on the road to Morgantown Thursday night to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers, looking to buck a trend that’s seen the home team win the last five in the series. The Bears defeated West Virginia in a blowout last year in Waco, but entered the game 0-5 all-time at Milan Puskar Stadium. After falling behind 7-0 on an efficient scripted drive by the Moutaineers, Baylor responded with several consecutive explosive drives to take a 17-7 lead. West Virginia responded with a field goal to make it 17-10 on the ensuing drive, and would tie the game on Baylor’s first major mishap of the night – a Blake Shapen fumble recovered by the Mountaineers and returned 35 yards to the end zone. Shapen would make up for the mistake on the next drive, connecting on his second touchdown pass of the first half moments later to give the Bears a 24-17 halftime lead. Baylor’s offense gained a ridiculous 358 yards in the first half, averaging 9.9 yards per play. West Virginia would respond with a touchdown to open the third quarter, tying the game once again at 24. Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen would exit with an injury on the Bears’ following drive, exiting play to be evaluated for a concussion after a nasty helmet to helmet hit. Kyron Drones took over and threw for a 2-yard touchdown to complete the drive and give Baylor back the lead, but the loss of Shapen hung over the rest of the night like a dark shadow. The teams would exchange touchdowns again from there, but Baylor’s extra point attempt was blocked and ran back for a two point West Virginia score to make it 37-33 Bears early in the fourth quarter. After a big fourth down stop gave Baylor back the football with a chance to really take control of the game, Qualan Jones coughed up the football for the Bears’ second turnover of the night – and just like after the first fumble, a West Virginia touchdown would follow moments later. A Baylor field goal would tie the game back up at 40 with less than two minutes to play on the following drive, but West Virginia responded with a long drive of their own to take the lead with a chip shot field goal in the final minute to win the game. With Blake Shapen’s status unknown postgame, the game represented a loss for the Bears in more ways than one. Wide receiver Gavin Holmes had a career night for Baylor, finishing with 210 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

BEST OF THE REST AROUND TEXAS

(All games to be played Saturday 10/15, unless specified otherwise)

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION

Navy at SMU (Friday), 6:30pm CT

UTSA at Florida International (Friday), 7:00pm CT

Texas State at Troy, 2:30pm CT

Louisiana Tech at North Texas, 3:00pm CT

Rice at Florida Atlantic, 5:00pm CT

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

Incarnate Word at Nicholls, 3:00pm CT

Southern Utah at Abilene Christian, 3:30pm CT

Tarleton State at Stephen F. Austin, 6:00pm CT

Northwestern State at Houston Christian, 6:00pm CT

Texas A&M-Commerce at McNeese, 7:00pm CT

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