Jalen Pitre playing his final game at McLane Stadium.

Five Keys to Saturday's Game

Get Day Started Right, Send Seniors Out With a Win

Football 11/26/2021 8:58:00 AM

#9/8 BAYLOR vs. TEXAS TECH
FIVE KEYS TO SATURDAY'S GAME

ENJOY THE MOMENT: While Saturday night's Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game ultimately deciding whether Baylor (9-2, 6-2) gets a spot in next week's Big 12 Championship game, the Bears need to focus on the task at hand and beating Tech in the last game at McLane Stadium for the 21 seniors who will be recognized before the game. Even with a win over the Red Raiders (6-5, 3-5), Baylor still needs OSU to win the Bedlam game to get into the championship game for the second time in three years. "All the workouts in McLane Stadium, all the games in McLane Stadium, it's definitely going to be a surreal moment, and I'm looking forward to it," senior safety Jalen Pitre said. "We'll see how it pans out when it comes up."
LET BLAKE DO BLAKE THINGS: If redshirt freshman quarterback makes his first collegiate start, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has to play to his strengths. Not surprised by his performance in the Bears' 20-10 road win over Kansas State, tight end Ben Sims said it was "Blake just doing Blake things." Head coach Dave Aranda said the key for Shapen is "Blake getting max protection and getting guys out late and working on mismatches or one-on-one matchups."
GROUND SUPPORT: For the Bears, everything starts up front and their ability to run the ball. The secret to success in going from 2-7 to 9-2 has been an RVO attack that's increased the rushing output by 157% - from a Big 12-low 90.3 yards per game last season to a Big 12-best 231.7 yards per game this year that ranks fifth nationally. Tech's run defense has been able to shut down some of the league's best backs and has improved dramatically, but TCU rushed for 394 yards and 8.5 per carry in a 52-31 win over the Red Raiders.
BRING THE HEAT: After recording a total of six sacks through the first five weeks of the season, the Bears have had at least five sacks in four of the last six games, including five last week against K-State's Skylar Thompson. A big part of Oklahoma State shutting out Tech, 23-0, and allowing just 108 yards total offense was sacking redshirt freshman QB Donovan Smith five times. "When you're able to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, it puts the offense behind," Pitre said. "It throws the offensive coordinator and the person calling the plays behind their script. They have to call different plays and step outside their comfort zone."
ROOT, ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM . . . TWICE: Even with rain in the forecast, Baylor fans need to show up and fill up McLane Stadium. The Bears have a chance to go 7-0 at home for the first time since 2013, when they won the first of back-to-back conference championships. Not only has Baylor gone undefeated at home, the average margin in the six games is 20.0 points, including a 27-14 win over then-No. 4 Oklahoma two weeks ago. If things go well, then turn your attentions to rooting for another home team, when No. 7 Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1) hosts 10^th-ranked OU (10-1, 7-1) for Bedlam at 6:30 p.m. at Boone Pickens Stadium. If Baylor and OSU both win, the Bears get another shot at the Cowboys in next Saturday's Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Jalen Pitre: S; 6' 0"; Senior; 3L

#86 Ben Sims: TE; 6' 4"; Junior; 2L

Players Mentioned

#8 Jalen Pitre
: 6' 0"; Senior; 3L
: S

#86 Ben Sims
: 6' 4"; Junior; 2L
: TE

Players Mentioned

#8 Jalen Pitre

#86 Ben Sims

Players Mentioned

#8 Jalen Pitre

#86 Ben Sims