2018 Baylor Bears football team
The 2018 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears played their home games at the McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. They competed as a member of the Big 12 Conference and were led by second-year head coach Matt Rhule. The team improved on its 1–11 record from last season, as they would finish 7–6, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for 5th place. They were invited to the Texas Bowl, where they defeated Vanderbilt.
2018 Baylor Bears football | |
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Texas Bowl champion | |
Texas Bowl, W 45–38 vs. Vanderbilt | |
Conference | Big 12 Conference |
2018 record | 7–6 (4–5 Big 12) |
Head coach | Matt Rhule (2nd season) |
Co-offensive coordinator | Glenn Thomas (2nd season) |
Co-offensive coordinator | Jeff Nixon (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Phil Snow (2nd season) |
Home stadium | McLane Stadium (Capacity: 45,140) |
2018 Big 12 Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 Oklahoma y$^ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Texas y | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa State | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 West Virginia | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TCU | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baylor | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oklahoma State | 3 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas State | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas Tech | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Oklahoma 39, Texas 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
The Bears finished the 2017 season 1–11, 1–8 in Big 12 play to finish in ninth place.
Recruiting
Position Key
Recruits
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Award | Player | Position | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Rimington Trophy[1] | Sam Tecklenburg | C | JR |
Fred Biletnikoff Award[2] | Denzel Mims | WR | JR |
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[3] | Ira Lewis | DT | SR |
Outland Trophy[4] | Ira Lewis | DT | SR |
Lou Groza Award[5] | Connor Martin | K | JR |
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award[6] | Denzel Mims | WR | JR |
Big 12 media poll
The Big 12 media poll was released on July 12, 2018 with the Bears predicted to finish in ninth place.[7]
Media poll | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Oklahoma | 509 (46) |
2 | West Virginia | 432 (2) |
3 | TCU | 390 (1) |
4 | Texas | 370 (1) |
5 | Oklahoma State | 300 |
6 | Kansas State | 283 (2) |
7 | Iowa State | 250 |
8 | Texas Tech | 149 |
9 | Baylor | 125 |
10 | Kansas | 52 |
Schedule
Baylor announced its football schedule on October 26, 2017. They will play 12 games with 6 games at home, 3 among non-conference and 3 Big 12 teams, and 6 away games, against 1 non-conference opponents and 5 Big 12 teams in the 2018 Big 12 Conference football season.[8]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Abilene Christian* | FSN | W 55–0 | 45,330 | |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | at UTSA* | W 37–20 | 42,071 | ||
September 15 | 2:30 p.m. | Duke* |
| FS1 | L 27–40 | 40,442 |
September 22 | 2:30 p.m. | Kansas |
| FS1 | W 26–7 | 36,725 |
September 29 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Oklahoma | ABC | L 33–66 | 86,642 | |
October 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Kansas State |
| FS1 | W 37–34 | 36,888 |
October 13 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Texas | ESPN | L 17–23 | 93,882 | |
October 25 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 13 West Virginia |
| FS1 | L 14–58 | 53,117 |
November 3 | 11:00 a.m. | Oklahoma State![]() |
| FS1 | W 35–31 | 43,492 |
November 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 23 Iowa State | FS1 | L 14–28 | 53,860 | |
November 17 | 11:00 a.m. | TCU |
| FS1 | L 9–16 | 45,140 |
November 24 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Texas Tech | FS1 | W 35–24 | 27,308 | |
December 27 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Vanderbilt* | ESPN | W 45–38 | 51,104 | |
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- Schedule Source:[9]
Game summaries
Abilene Christian
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
Bears | 17 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 55 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
First meeting |
at UTSA
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 37 |
Roadrunners | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
0–1 | 2017 | L, 10–17 |
Duke
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Devils | 7 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 40 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 27 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
0–2 | 2017 | L, 20–34 |
Kansas
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jayhawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Bears | 7 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 26 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
13–4 | 2017 | W, 38–9 |
at Oklahoma
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 6 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 33 |
No. 6 Sooners | 14 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 66 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
3–23 | 2017 | L, 41–49 |
Kansas State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 34 |
Bears | 3 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 37 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
6–9 | 2017 | L, 20–33 |
Baylor held a slight edge in the pregame analysis. Coming into the game Baylor was considered better than they were at this same time last year and has won 3 games (Kansas, Texas-San Antonio, and Abilene Christian), the Bears have also lost 2 (Duke, Oklahoma). In Baylor's previous game against Oklahoma, they achieved 493 yards of offense in their loss—something expected to be a challenge for Kansas State on defense.[10]
The game started with Kansas State holding the lead at the end of the first and second quarters. Baylor pulled ahead in the third quarter but missed several field goals. Baylor's Charlie Brewer threw for 296 yards and Kansas State's Alex Barnes rushed for 250 yards[11] (he ran for 129 yards and four touchdowns in the 2016 matchup also at Baylor).[12]
Kansas State had its share of mistakes: K-State missed a field goal and an extra point and were also ineffective on kickoff returns. Kansas State also gave up a fumble on the kickoff return after a controversial play review to start the third quarter and Baylor scored a touchdown two plays later.[13] Wildcat turnovers and penalties led to three touchdowns for Baylor.[14] They also had problems with a punt return they recovered and an extra point was blocked.[12]
Baylor's Connor Martin had a rough day as the kicker, missing three field goals and an extra point, yet among all that he ended up kicking the game-winning field goal from 29 yards with 8 seconds left in the game. The final score was a Baylor victory, 37-34.[12]
at Texas
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
No. 9 Longhorns | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
26–76–5 | 2017 | L, 7–38 |
at West Virginia
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
No. 13 Mountaineers | 10 | 31 | 10 | 7 | 58 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
2–4 | 2017 | L, 36–38 |
Oklahoma State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
Bears | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
16–20 | 2017 | L, 16–59 |
at Iowa State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
No. 23 Cyclones | 7 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 28 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
9–7 | 2017 | L, 13–23 |
TCU
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horned Frogs | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
Bears | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
53–53–7 | 2017 | L, 22–45 |
vs Texas Tech
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Red Raiders | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
37–38–1 | 2017 | L, 24–38 |
vs Vanderbilt–Texas Bowl
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 10 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
Commodores | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
2–0 | 1954 | W, 25–19 |
Statistics
Scoring
- Scores against non-conference opponents
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- Scores against the Big 12
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- Scores against all opponents
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Players drafted into the NFL
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
3 | 67 | Jalen Hurd | WR | San Francisco 49ers |
References
- "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF). August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211734508
- "Baylor Unveils Football Schedule". Wacotrib.com. October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- "2018 Baylor Bears Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- Robinett, Kellis (September 30, 2018). "Grades from Kansas State's 19-14 loss to Texas and a look ahead to Baylor". MSN Sports. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- "Kansas State vs. Baylor (box score)". ESPN.com. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- "Baylor beats K-State on Martin's FG with 8 seconds left". Fox Sports. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- Robinett, Kellis (October 6, 2018). "Mistakes cost Kansas State Wildcats in 37-34 loss to Baylor Bears". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- Green, Arne (October 6, 2018). "Kansas State football loses heartbreaker to Baylor 37-34". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2018.