GAME 7

BAYLOR vs. WEST VIRGINIA

Oct. 21 | 7 p.m. CT | McLane Stadium | Waco, Texas
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Game Notes: Baylor | West Virginia | Big 12

STORY LINES
- Baylor plays its first home in nearly a month and opens a two-game stint at McLane Stadium with a visit from West Virginia for homecoming. BU is 46-43-4 all-time on homecoming and has won 7 straight HC games.
- Baylor has had 17 true freshmen appear in a game in 2017, the fourth-largest total nationally.
- The Bears' 22 first-time starters in 2017, including nine true freshmen, are the second most in FBS.
- Baylor Co-OC/running backs coach Jeff Nixon played running back from 1993-94 before transferring.
- Clay Johnston ranks third in the Big 12 with 9.0 tackles for loss and 10th with 45 total tackles.
- The Bears lead all of Division I with seven plays from scrimmage 70 or more yards. BU leads FBS with six passes of 60+ and six passes of 70+ yards.
- Denzel Mims ranks third nationally with 7 receiving touchdowns and 6th in Big 12 with 553 receiving yards.
- Of Baylor's 17 touchdown scoring drives in 2017, 15 have lasted 2:30 or less. The Bears are averaging 2:28 per touchdown scoring drive in 2017.
- BU ranks fourth nationally in net punting with an average of 43.86 and only 34 yards allowed on 29 punts.
- Baylor ranks third in the Big 12 in tackles for loss (41.0) with three players in the top 15 in the league: Johnston, Ira Lewis (5.5) and Eric Ogor (5.0).
- Blake Lynch and Harrison Hand are tied for the Big 12 lead (32nd, FBS) with six passes broken up.
- Underclassmen have accounted for 62% (256 of 411) of Baylor's tackles through six games.
- Quarterback Zach Smith has thrown for 200+ yards and at least two TDs in six of eight career starts. He is averaging 293.3 yards per game and 13 touchdowns in six career Big 12 matchups.
- Smith was awarded Baylor's final single-digit jersey, the number eight, following the K-State game.
- Connor Martin tied the Baylor record with four field goals against OU, and ranks second in the Big 12 and in the top 16 nationally with 11 field goals made. He's made nine field goals in the last three games.
- Of Baylor's 132 starters through six games, 64 have been freshmen or sophomores, including 13-of-22 (seven offense, six defense) at Oklahoma State.
- Baylor is playing its 116th season of football and first under Matt Rhule, who completed a successful four-year term at Temple from 2013-16. Baylor holds a 588-562-44 (.511) record all-time.

COMPLETE NOTES