Baylor falls to TCU at home, denting bowl projections
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The gist
Baylor lost 17-6 at home to TCU, dropping to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.
The Bears need two more wins to reach a bowl.
Background
Baylor is a Big 12 college football program coached by Dave Aranda. The Bears had one of the most productive passing attacks in program history last season but finished 5-7 and missed a bowl game; halfway through 2026 they are in danger of repeating that combination, per SI. The TCU loss snapped a four-game winning streak and cost Baylor ground in national bowl projections.
How it unfolded
- Oct 17, 2026Baylor lost 17-6 at home to TCU at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, snapping a four-game winning streak and dropping the Bears to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.
- Oct 19, 2026College Football News projected Baylor to face Boise State in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 22 in Shreveport, Louisiana, while one national outlet left the Bears out of its latest bowl projections.
- Oct 20, 2026Dave Campbell's Texas Football honored five Bears on its Midseason All-Texas Team.
- Oct 21, 2026Senior punter Palmer Williams, who leads the country with a 51.4-yard average, was named to The Sporting News Midseason All-America Second Team; Michael Allen was named a semifinalist for the Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.
- Oct 24, 2026Baylor is scheduled to play Kansas at 12 p.m. in Lawrence, Kansas, with six games remaining in the regular season.
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- Dave Aranda said Kansas is "a team that's hunting for respect" and called it "a great challenge for us," while acknowledging the offensive line still has to "block better."
- Players
- Defensive end Kyler Jordan said the focus is "looking forward, fixing the things that we didn't do right," and receiver Jayden McGowan said the offense will "bounce back" and "come out harder than ever."
- Analysts
- SI framed the season as risking "another season of historic stats, disappointing results," noting the Bears remain within reach of a bowl if they win two of their next three games.
Still unverified
Baylor could have starters Nate Kibble and Devon Jordan available against Kansas while five players remain out, per one report. Bowl projections are predictions: College Football News has Baylor facing Boise State in the Independence Bowl, while one national outlet left the Bears out of its latest projections.