No. 2 Football Returns Home to Face West Virginia
10/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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| 2/2 BAYLOR (5-0, 2-0) vs. NR/RV West Virginia (3-2, 0-2) Oct. 17, 2015 | 11 a.m. CT Waco, Texas | McLane Stadium (45,140) TV: FOX |
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| STORY LINES
- Baylor welcomes West Virginia to McLane Stadium for its Big 12 home opener Saturday on FOX at 11 a.m.
- Baylor has started 5-0 for the 3rd-straight year, after winning 66-7 last week at Kansas.
- Baylor owns the FBS's best home win streak (18 games) & has not lost in Waco since Oct. 13, 2012, vs. TCU.
- #AmericasTopOffense leads the NCAA with 725.0 yards per game and 64.2 points per contest.
- Baylor is the only school in FBS to be top-10 in both passing (8th, 367.4) and rushing offense (2nd, 357.6).
- The Bears are the only team in the country averaging over 9 yards per play, gaining 9.09 yards a snap.
- Baylor and West Virginia will meet for the 4th time Saturday. The Mountaineers lead the series 2-1, but BU has won the only meeting of the series in Waco (73-42, 2013).
- Baylor has outscored foes 321-111 through 5 games and leads the FBS in victory margin (42.0).
- Baylor's 321 points through 5 games are the most by any school since major classification began in 1937.
- Baylor is the only team in the country to lead every game by 16 or more points.
- Baylor's #GangGreenBU ranks 10th in the country with 8.2 tackles for loss per contest.
- Baylor is 8-0 in the year-old $266 million McLane Stadium, with an average margin of victory of + 34.3 points.
- Baylor is averaging 57.4 points per game and 685.8 yards per game at McLane Stadium.
- Baylor has the nation's best home record since 2011 at 27-1.
- In home games, Baylor is 31-3 over the last 4+ seasons and 37-10 in the Art Briles era.
- BU has won 25 of its last 26 games played in Texas and is 36-4 in the Lone Star State over last 4+ years.
- Baylor is 34-8 when ranked under Briles, including a 19-0 mark in home games.
- Baylor is looking to start a season 6-0 for the 3rd-straight year, which would be a program first.
- Baylor is trying to move to 3-0 in Big 12 play for only the 2nd time ever. The Bears were last 3-0 in 2013.
- Baylor is the most successful Texas team since 2011 with a win percentage of .789 (45-12).
- Baylor moved up to a program-high No. 2 in both the APà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Top 25 and the Amway Coaches Poll.
- Baylor's been ranked in a school-record 40 straight AP Polls, FBS' 4th-best streak (Top 10 in 30 of last 33).
- Baylor leads all FBS teamsà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € in TD drives of 2 minutes or less (29). BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € had a nation's best 41 a year ago.
- Baylor has won 18 of its last 20 Big 12 games and has won 11 straight league games at home.
TEAM QUICKà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € HITS
- Baylor is 1 of 16 remaining unbeaten teams in FBS and 1 of 3 in the Big 12.
- Baylor improved to 2-0 in league action for a 3rd-consecutive season.
- Baylor has 206 first half points in 2015, averaging a 25.2 point lead at halftime - both marks lead the nation.
- Baylor is outscoring opponents 115-31 in the 2nd-halves of 2015's first 5 games.
- Baylor leads the Big 12 in turnover margin (1.00), after forcing 13 takeaways and turning it over 8 times.
- Baylor is 1 of 4 teams that's led by 13+ in every game, along with Florida St., LSU & Temple.
- Baylor is 18-2 in the last 2+ years in Big 12 play & 35-27 under head coach Art Briles. BU was 11-85 in Big 12 games prior to Briles' arrival in 2008.
- Baylor is 31-4 over its last 35 games. The 4 losses were all away from home; three vs. top-15 teams.
- Baylor is 41-3 over the last 5 seasons when leading at halftime.
- Baylor is 40-1 when leading by 10+ points at the half during the Briles era.
- Baylor will play its 1st game with an APà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € rank of No. 2, which is the highest in school history [No. 3 in 1953, 2013, 2015].
- Baylor has won 7 straight Big 12 games, which is the 2nd longest streak in BU history (9 in 2012-13).
- Baylor has appeared in 5-straight bowl games for the 1st time in school history.
- Baylor won a school-record 11 games, claimed its second-straight Big 12 title and earned a second-consecutive trip to a BCS/New Year's Six bowl game in 2014.
- Baylor returned 51 lettermen and 18 starters (8 o; 9 d; 1 st) from last season's squad.
- Baylor also led the FBSà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € in total offense & scoring offense each of last 2 years, averaging 581.5 yds & 48.2 pts in 2014.
- Baylor is playing its 8th season under Briles and its 114th season in program history.
- Baylor was only the 2nd school to repeat as Big 12 champions - OU in `06-08.
- BU is 1 of only 2 schools (Alabama) in the country to have wins over top 10 teams in each of past 4 seasons.
- Baylor is 12-5 in games decided by 7 points or less in the last 5 seasons.
- Baylor is 8-0 vs. AP Top 25 opponents at home over last 4 seasons.
- Baylor secured its first-ever back-to-back conference championships and the eighth conference title in school history (Southwest Conference: 1915, 1922, 1924, 1974, 1980, 1994; Big 12 Conference: 2013, 2014).
- Baylor won 11 games in back-to-back seasons for first time in school history.
- BU tied a school-record with 8 conference victories in 2014. BU had 8 league wins in two other seasons: 1980 & 2013.
- Briles earned his 55th win at BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € vs. K-State in 2014 to become the 3rd-winningest coach in BU history.
- The Bears have now been ranked in 5 straight seasons for the 1st time since being ranked in 5 straight from 1953-57.
OFFENSE
- This season, Baylor has averaged 41.2 points and 407.4 yards in the first halves of games.
- Baylor is the only school to have a top-5 RB (Shock Linwood, 5th/143.8) & top-5 WR (Corey Coleman, 4th/135.6)
- A Baylor receiver caught at least 3 TDs in BU's first 4 games (Jayà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Lee at SMU, Coreyà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Coleman vs. Lamar, vs. Rice and vs. Texas Tech) -- prior to 2015, a BU receiver had 3 TD catches in a game only 6 times in program history.
- Baylor had 11 different receivers catch a pass in the win at Kansas.
- Baylor has rushed for 281 or more yards in each game in 2015 as well as having 4 or more passing TDs in each.
- Baylor leads the nation with .80 points per play.
- Baylor is averaging 32.8 first downs per game in 2015, which tops in FBS.
- Baylor has punted only 10 times in 2015, which is the lowest total in the country.
- Through five games of 2015, Baylor leads the country in TD drives of 1 minute or less (12), 2 minutes or less (29) and throws of 25+ yards (16). (via ESPN Stats &à ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Info)
- Baylor is 33 of 60 (55.0%) on 3rd downs this year, which is 2nd-best in the country.
- BU's 17.50 yards per completion ranks 4th in FBS and leads the conference.
- Baylor ranks 10th in the country in TFLs allowed (3.80) and 13th in sacks allowed per game (1.00).
- The Bears have played both Seth Russell and Jarrett Stidham at QB and the pair combined for a 214.81 passing efficiency, which leads the country.
- Baylor has 3 RBs that rank in the top-10 in the Big 12 in rushing- Shock Linwood (1st with 143.8), Terence Williams (6th with 78.2) and Johnny Jefferson (9th with 70.6). No other league school has more than 1 RB in the top 10.
- Baylor has scored at least 20 points in the 1st halves in 16 of 17 games since 2014.
- Baylor has topped 500 yards of offense 46 times in the 57 games since 2011, which leads the nation.
- Baylor has gained 500+ yards in 25 of 31 games since 2013, including 17 games with 600+ yards in that span.
- Baylor has topped 500 yards of offense 46 times in the 57 games since 2011 -- that mark leads the nation.
- Baylor has scored 30+ points in 45 of its last 50 contests and 40+ points in 40 of its last 50 games.
- Baylor has scored 50+ points 16 times since 2013, and 25 times since 2011, both most among all FBS teams.
- Baylor has scored in 105 straight games -- previous school record was 89 games fromà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Dec. 31, 1979 - Oct. 23, 1987.
- Baylor reached 600 yards of offense in 5 games in 2014 and has done so in its first 5 games of 2015. BU has 36 such games in its history (32 in Briles era).
- Baylor recorded the 2nd-most yards in school history vs. Lamar with 785 and then topped that by putting up 793 vs. Rice.
- Baylor tallied a new school with 7 TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € passes in the victory over Rice.
- Baylor set a school record for yards per play vs. SMU in the season openerà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € with 10.48.
- Baylor became only the 2nd-team since 2004 with 700 yards of offense in each of its first 3 games - the other 2013 BU.
- Baylor boasts the nation's only returning 1,000-yard receiving duo in 2015: Corey Coleman (64-1,119-11) and KD Cannonà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (58-1,030-8). So far in 2015 the duo has combined for 44 catches and 910 yards with 16 TDs.
- #AmericasTopOffense ranks in 2014: No. 1 nationally in scoring (48.2), total offense (581.5) and first downs (30.1).
- BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € returns its entire starting O-line from the Cotton Bowl Classic, entire backfield & 10 of 13 receivers from 2014.
- Baylor's O-line has 6 players that have 13 or more career starts.
- Baylor topped 700 yards of total offense in each of its first 3 games (SMU, 723; LU, 785 & Rice 793). BU has accomplished the feat 11 times in program history.
- Baylor has scored 60+ points in 10 of its last 15 home games.
- Baylor has totaled 500 or more yards of offense in 17 of its last 18 home games.
- Baylor is 21-1 since the start of 2012 when attempting 50 or more rushes.
- Baylor set an NCAA record in 2013 with 681 pts. in 13 games. BU's 52.4 points/game were tied for 4th-most all-time.
DEFENSE
- Baylor has had 5 different tackle leaders in its 5 games (Grant Campbell, 11 at SMU; Aiavion Edwards/Shawn Oakman, 6 vs. Lamar; Chance Waz, 8 vs. Rice; Orion Stewart, 10 vs. TTU; and Raaquan Davis, 11 at KU).
- Baylor has forced at least 2 turnovers in every game of 2015, including 3 in the win at Kansas.
- Baylor forced 4 turnovers against Texas Tech - its most in a game since producing 4 vs. WVUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € in 2013.
- With 2 more fumbles recovered against KU, Baylor ranks 7th in FBS and 2nd in the Big 12 with 7 recovered.
- Baylor ranks 2nd in the league and 32nd nationally by surrendering only 129.0 yards per game on the ground.
- Baylor is giving up 22.2 points per contest, which is the 3rd-best scoring defense in the conference.
- The Bears are surrendering 4.77 yards per play in 2015, which is 3rd in the Big 12 and 30th nationally.
- Baylor is allowing just 363.6 yards per game in 2015, which is 3rd-best in the league.
- Baylor ranks 3rd in the Big 12 and 36th in the country with 6 interceptions.
- In total, Baylor is 13th nationally and 3rd in the league with 13 turnovers gained.
- Baylor has held all 5 of its opponents at least nine points under their season scoring average.
- Baylor's #GangGreenBU defense held KU to 227 yards of offense, the lowest total for a Big 12 opponent vs. BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € since holding Texas to 217 in 2013.
- Baylor surrendered only 246 yards of offense to Rice, snapping a string of 13 games in which it had given up 300+.
- Phil Bennett's D has forced multiple turnovers in 38 of 57 games and in all 5 games in 2015.
- Baylor's defense is 33-5 under Bennett when recording 2+ takeaways.
- Baylor's defense has forced at least 1 turnover in 21 straight games (18-3 in that stretch).
- Baylor has recorded three or more sacks in 11 of the last 18 games, including 5 in win over Rice.
- Bennett's defense has forced multiple turnovers in 27 of its last 38 games (32-6 record in that span).
- Baylor's D has 3 or more turnovers in 13 games since 2013 & has won 25 of its last 26 with 3+ takeaways.
- Baylor is 21-1 when forcing 3+ turnovers during the Briles era.
- 3 defensive starters (Beau Blackshear, Andrew Billings & Orion Stewart) are Waco natives.
INDIVIDUAL QUICKà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € HITS
OFFENSE
- QB Seth Russell leads FBS in passing efficiency (210.7), passing TDs (22), passing yds. per completion (18.40), pts. responsible for per game (31.2) and passing yds. per attempt (11.75).
- Russell is 15th in passing yards per game (305.4) and his total offense of 341.0 ypg. is 9th-best nationally.
- Russell had a historic performance against Rice, tying a school record with 6 TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € passes.
- The fourth-year junior threw for 277 yards on 12-of-16 passing for a single-game pass efficiency rating of 344.2
- That is the best pass efficiency in a single-game by anyone since 2000 when NC State's Phillip Rivers had a 349.7.
- Russell in 6 starts has 3 300-yard passing games, tying Neal Jeffrey & Blake Szymanski for 4th-most in BU history.
- Russell threw 3 TDs at KU, while sitting out the entire 2nd half. It was his first career start without 4 or more TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € passes.
- Russell also ran for a 5-yard TD against KU, giving him at least 4 TDs accounted for in all 6 career starts.
- Russell's 3 TD passes gave him 22 on the season, tied for 5th-most on Baylor's single-season passing TDs list.
- WR Corey Coleman leads the country in TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € catches (13) and scoring (15.6 ppg.), while ranking 4th in receiving yards per game (135.6).
- Coleman has put up 6-straight 100+-yard games dating back to the Cotton Bowl - a program record.
- Coleman's yards per reception (21.87) are 8th-best nationally, while Jay Lee is 5th at 22.50.
- Coleman needs just 1 TD catch to tie the BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € single season record set by Kendall Wright (14) in 2011. He is also 4 away from tying Wright's BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € career record for TDs (30) and will move into sole possession of 2nd on that chart with 2 TD grabs over current Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams (27).
- Lee is also ranked 25th nationally and 5th in the Big 12 with 4 TD grabs.
- Baylor RBs Shock Linwood (9.59) & Terence Williams (7.11) are 2nd and 9th nationally in rush yds. per carry.
- Linwood is 5th in FBS and No. 1 in the conference with 143.8 yards rushing per contest.
- Linwood is 19th nationally and 2nd in the Big 12 with 7 rush TDs on the season.
- Linwood now sits 2nd on BU's all-time rushing list (2,852). He need 813 to catch Walter Abercrombie (1978-81, 3,665).
- Linwood is also moving up the career rushing TD chart with 31. He will next pass Robert Strait (32) and Robert Griffin IIIà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (33). Alfred Anderson holds the record with 35.
- Linwood set the BU freshman and sophomore rushing records & gave BU a 5th-straight season with a 1,000-yard rusher.
- OL Spencer Drango was named a 2014 consensus All-America, Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year and Outland Trophy semifinalist.
DEFENSE
- With 1 sack against KU, DEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Shawn Oakman (16.0) broke the BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € school record for career sacks (Daryl Gardener & Chris McAlister, 15.0).
- Oakman is 16th nationally with 1.6 TFLs per game for #GangGreenBU.
- Oakman is tied for 2nd on BU's career TFLs list with 38.5. He needs 10.5 to move into tie for first (Charles Benson, 49.0).
- Last year, Oakman ranked 10th nationally in TFLà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (1.5/gm) & 15th in sacksà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (.85/gm). He led BU with 19.5 TFLs and 11.0 sacks in 2014.
- NBà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Travon Blanchard ranks 4th nationally and 1st in the Big 12 with .60 fumbles forced per contest.
- LBà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Grant Campbell is 9th in the Big 12 with 7.8 tackles per game, while his solo tackle tally of 5.4 is 33rd nationally.
- DBà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Xavien Howard is averaging 1.4 passes defended per game, which is 3rd in the Big 12 and is 22nd in FBS.
- Howard is also 16th in the country and 3rd in the Big 12 with .60 interceptions per game.
- S Chance Waz made his first career start against Rice and led the team with 8 tackles.
- With Waz starting, the team's longest starting streak snapped [Terrell Burt, 28]. Beau Blackshear now owns the honor with 28 straight starts.
- LBà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Taylor Young returned from injury vs. Rice and made 4 tackles.
SPECIALà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € TEAMS
- Sophomore PK Chris Callahan made 19 of his last 23 FGs, after starting his career 1-of-6. He has also made 77-straight extra points, after going 45-for-45 to start 2015.
- Pà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Drew Galitz, a freshman, has only punted 10 times on the season, but is averaging 46.4 yards per boot - 3rd in Big 12.
- With that effort BU leads the country in net punting at 46.0 yards.
- Baylor has attempted just 3 FGs on the year, while no other Big 12 school has kicked less than 5.
BRILES' UNIQUE SYSTEM IS AMERICA'S TOP OFFENSE
Art Briles' unique, record-breaking offense is leading the nation in total offense (725.0) and scoring (64.2) through five games, after also having led in both each of the past two seasons - total offense (581.5 ypg 2014, 618.8 ypg 2013) and scoring (48.2 ppg 2014, 52.4 ppg 2013). Baylor's offense is the only one in the country to rank among the top-four in total offense each of the last four years.
THE BRILES OFFENSE: à ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € A unique, up-tempo spread attack with origins in Bill Yeoman's `Houston Veer' (perhaps most identifiable by wide splits of receivers and a power running game), Art Briles has honed his offensive system over the past four decades as a high school and collegiate coach; it's a balanced offense, not to be confused with more common pass-heavy spread attacks. The Briles offense is also in use at Bowling Green (head coach Dino Babers) and Tulsa (head coach Philip Montgomery) under former Briles assistants. In the latest NCAAà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € statistics, those three programs, Baylor (725.0), Bowling Green (604.7) and Tulsa (568.0) are first, fourth and seventh respectively in total offense.
BIGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 12'S TOPà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € TEAMà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € SINCEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 2013
En route to back-to-back Big 12 titles, the Bears racked up matching 8-1 league records. That combined record of 16-2, plus this year's 2-0 start is far and away tops in the Big 12 since the start of 2013.
RUNà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € GAMEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € ROLLINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € FORà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € BEARSà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € EARLYà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € INà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 2015
With five straight games of 281 or more yards rushing, Baylor is second in the country by averaging 357.6 yards per contest on the ground. BU's rushing attack is a four-headed monster, which is led by Shock Linwood 719 yds. on 75 carries with 7 TDs. The junior is torching defenses for 9.6 yards per carry in 2015 and 143.8 yards per game. Both of those marks are No. 1 in the Big 12 and second and 5th in the country, respectively. Behind Linwood, redshirt freshman Terence Williams has made the most of his closer role, producing 396 yards on 55 carries with 1 TD. Sophomore Johnny Jefferson (357-50-4) and Devin Chafin (107-19-1) give BU four running backs with over 100 yards through five games. Meanwhile, QBà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Seth Russell can also gain yards on the ground, racking up 178 yards on 27 carries and 4 TDs in 2015.
WEST VIRGINIAà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € SERIES
- Baylor and West Virginia will meet for the fourth time Saturday. WVU leads the all-time series is 2-1 with each team having won on its home field over the last three years.
- In 2014, Baylor tied the score at 27 points apiece entering the fourth quarter, but couldn't scratch out any more points to suffer its only loss of the Big 12 season, 41-27. BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € was held under 400 yards of offense for what at the time was only the 3rd time in 47 games.
- In 2013, Baylor got out to a 56-14 lead at halftime in Waco and never looked back as the offense posted a school-record 872 yards and a Big 12 record 73 points in a 73-42 victory.
- In 2012, Baylor faced West Virginia in the Mountaineers first conference game as members of the Big 12. WVUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € scratched out a 70-63 victory in Morgantown in the highest scoring game in Big 12 history
- The teams have combined for 316 (163 BU/153 WVU) points and 3,548 (1,890 BU/1,658 WVU) yards of total offense in the first two meetings of the series.
THEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € NATION'S MOSTà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € BALANCEDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € OFFENSE
Currently, Baylor is the only team in the nation to be ranked in the top 10 in both passing (8th, 367.4) and rushing offense (2nd, 357.6). Baylor has ranked among the nation's top 15 in both rushing and passing yards in three of the past four years. Additionally, BU has rushed on more than 54 percent of plays over the last four seasons.
BAYLOR'S RETURN TO PROMINENCE UNDER BRILES
It's no secret that Art Briles has rebuilt Baylor's football program back to national prominence, but most impressive is how quickly and pronounced the transformation happened (Briles is third on the BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € career wins list).
NEW QUARTERBACK, SAME RESULTS
With two-time Big 12 champion quarterback Bryce Petty taking his talents to the NFL, fourth-year junior Seth Russell was handed the keys to America's top offense and he has shown he is more than apt to handle the responsibility. The Garland, Texas, product has put up sensational numbers through his first four starts of 2015.
SCORINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € BECOMINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € HISTORICà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € AGAIN
à ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € Through five games of 2015, the Bears have put up 321 points, which are the most by any school since major classification began in 1937 (via Elias Sports Bureau).
TEAM: YEAR, POINTS
Baylor: 2015, 321 Baylor: 2013, 317 Oregon: 2013, 296 Oregon: 2010, 283
COLEMAN CARRYING `WIDE RECEIVER U' BANNER
Through five games, junior Corey Coleman has firmly taken hold of the No. 1 receiver roll, which continues a long history of success for BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € at the wide receiver position. He currently leads the country in TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € catches (13) and is fourth in receiving yards per contest (135.6).
BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € LEADINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € NATION INà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 50-POINTà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € GAMESà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € SINCEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 2013
With its 56 points against SMU, 61 against Lamar, 70-point outburst against Rice, 63 vs. Texas Tech and 66 at Kansas, the Bears continued to lead the nation in 50-point outings since 2013.
MOSTà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € 50-Point Games Since 2013
Baylor 16
Oregon 13
Ohio State 11
BAYLORà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € EARNSà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € HIGHEST-EVERà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € RANKINGS
After starting the season 5-0, Baylor moved up to No. 2 in both the AP Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll. BU earned 1,390 points and 13 first-place nods from voters in the AP poll, after ranking at No. 3 last week with 1,364 points and 10 first-place votes. The No. 2 ranking in the AP poll is Baylor's highest ever in that poll. The Bears had previously been No. 3 in both 1953 and 2013. Baylor has now been ranked in a school-record 40 straight AP Polls, which is the FBS' fourth-best streak. The Bears have also been top 10 in 30 of the last 33 AP polls. The Bears moved up two spots in the coaches poll, gaining 55 points and three first-place votes to total 1,463 and eight, up from 1,408 and five No. 1 designations last week. Baylor had previously been as high as No. 3 in the coaches poll on Oct. 5, 2014. Baylor is now the highest ranked Big 12 Conference team and sits behind only defending national champion Ohio State in both polls.
#GANGGREENBUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € HOLDINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € FOESà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € WELLà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € BELOWà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € SEASONà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € AVERAGE
Despite facing a multitude of extra drives due to the offense's quick-strike nature, the Baylor defense has held all five of its 2015 opponents at least nine points below their season scoring average.
OPPORTUNISTICà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € DEFENSE
Baylor's defense under coordinator Phil Bennett has demonstrated a knack for making big plays at key moments to contribute to the Bears' winning ways over the past four-plus seasons. In four-plus years under Bennett, Baylor's D has recorded at least one takeaway in 52 of 57 games - a total of 122 takeaways (72 interceptions, 50 fumbles recovered). Overall under Bennett, Baylor is 33-5 when recording two or more takeaways, including 5-0 in 2015.
OWNINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € THEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € LONEà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € STARà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € STATE
Baylor has racked up a 19-3 record vs. in-state foes over the last four-plus years, including victories in its last 12 meetings with other Texas schools. The Bears have also been successful against any opponent when the game has been played in the Lone Star State, boasting a 25-1 record over its last 26 games and a 36-4 mark in contests over the last four-plus years in Texas.
HOME WINNING STREAK ISà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € NATION'S BEST
The Bears' 18-game home win streak is a school record and is the nation's best active string. The streak started on Nov. 3, 2012 and BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € hasn't lost at home since Oct. 13, 2012 - a streak of 1,085 days as of Saturday's kickoff. During its home win streak, BUà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € is averaging 56.5 points, while limiting foes to 19.3 points. The Bears are racking up 675.2 yards per game and holding opponents to 312.3 during the streak.
NCAA FBS ACTIVE HOME WINNING STREAKS
Baylor -- 18
Boise St. -- 17
Florida St. -- 17
Clemson -- 13
BAYLOR'S POWERFUL OFFENSE ALSO CRAZY FAST
Baylor is continuing a three-year period of dominance in scoring quickly. Through five games of 2015, Baylor leads the nation in TD drives of one minute or less (12), two minutes or less (29) and throws of 25+ yards (16), while third in most 40+ offensive TDs (8). In 2014, Baylor's up-tempo offense led the nation in plays/gameà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (87.5), TD drives of one minute or lessà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (24), TD drives of two minutes or less (41, tied with Oregon) and fewest seconds-per-play in the first halfà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (18.0). The Bears also led the NCAA in TDs of 40 or more yards (19) and TDà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € throws of 25 or more yardsà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (24). In 2013, Baylor's offense led the nation in seconds-per-playà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (16.7), TD drives of one minute or less (29), TD drives of two minutes or lessà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (60) and most plays of 40 yards or more (37). [all stats via ESPN Stats & Info]
VETERAN O-LINE PROTECTING NEW QB, POWERINGà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € RUNà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € GAME
Baylor's offensive line has six linemen with 13 or more career starts (Spencer Drango 40, Desmine Hilliard 18, Kyle Fuller 18, Blake Muir 17, Jarell Broxton 13, Pat Colbert 13). The line allowed just 1.54 sacks-per-game during its 2014 championship run [see chart below]. The 2015 line is ranked third in the Big 12 and 13th in the nation by giving up just five sacks in five games. That veteran group has also help BU become the nation's No. 2 rushing offense with 357.6 yards per game. In the preseason, the group was dubbed the nation's No. 2 unit by Lindy's, No. 4 by Athlon and No. 6 by Phil Steele.
SACKS-PER-GAME ALLOWED:
2015: 1.00 (5 for 27 yds in 5 games)
2014: 1.85 (24 for 152 yds in 13 games)
2013: 1.69 (22 for 113 yds in 13 games)
2012: 1.46 (19 for 92 yds in 13 games)
2011: 2.23 (29 for 175 yds in 13 games)
