No. 6 Baylor Football Earns Spot in Sugar Bowl
12/5/2021 1:35:00 PM | Football
Bears headed to New Orleans for second time in last three seasons, will face No. 8 Ole Miss
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – Sixth-ranked Baylor and No. 8 Ole Miss, which weren't even in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, are headed to a New Year's Six bowl game and boasting double-digit wins.
A day after Baylor's dramatic 21-16 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship, the Bears (11-2) and Ole Miss Rebels (10-2) both accepted invitations on Sunday to play in the 88th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2022.
The game will kick off at 7:45 p.m. CT at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and will be broadcast on ESPN.
"We're blessed to be in this position and to play in such a great bowl game in such a great venue in such a great city, a city that has a lot of meaning to me," said second-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda.
"And to play an opponent like Mississippi with Coach (Lane) Kiffin and just his track record and his expertise. I think it's a good contrast in styles, and we're looking forward to the challenge."
After a COVID-affected 2-7 debut season in 2020, Aranda led the Bears to their third Big 12 title in program history and a program-record-tying 11 wins. Baylor finished 11-2 in 2013 and 2014, then 11-3 with a Sugar Bowl berth two years ago with then-head coach Matt Rhule.
"I look back at just the last two years and the learning that has taken place and the growth that has taken place," said Aranda, who spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at LSU. "To try to achieve things that are bigger than just a solo pursuit, to achieve things for other people and to be a part of a team. Just to see that come together and be a part of that is very strong for me. It's inspiring."
Kiffin, who had previous head coaching stints at Florida Atlantic, USC and Tennessee and two years with the Oakland Raiders, led Ole Miss to a program-record 10 regular-season wins this season. Last year, the Rebels overcame a 1-3 start to win four of their last five, including beating seventh-ranked Indiana in the Outback Bowl.
Led by Heisman candidate Matt Corral at quarterback, the Rebels have the fourth-ranked offense in the country, averaging 506.7 yards and 35.9 points per game.
Under first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Baylor is one of the best-balanced offenses in the country, averaging 214.7 yards rushing and 216.0 yards passing per game. Baylor's defense has a Big 12-leading 16 interceptions and ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 19.2 points per game.
"This is an awesome opportunity to play a great program in Baylor, one that's extremely well-coached," Kiffin said. "I've gone against Coach Aranda's defenses before, at three different places. This will be four. Really great coach, done an unbelievable job."
Current Baylor Bear Foundation members can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. CT.
Baylor, appearing in its 10th bowl in the last 12 years, has an all-time record of 1-1 in the Sugar Bowl. This is the Bears' fourth appearance in a New Year's Six bowl following berths in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl and 2020 Sugar Bowl.
This will be just the second meeting all-time between Baylor and Ole Miss. The Bears won the only previous contest, 20-10, on Sept. 6, 1975, in Waco.
The New Orleans Marriott has been designated as the host hotel for Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This outstanding property is conveniently located on the city's renowned Canal Street, immediately adjacent to the world-famous French Quarter. Hotel packages will be available through Anthony Travel. Click here for more information.
All gates to the Superdome will open at 5:45 p.m. CT, two hours prior to kickoff. Baylor will be the visiting team and occupy the bench area on the east side of the stadium.
For the latest news on the Baylor football team, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – Sixth-ranked Baylor and No. 8 Ole Miss, which weren't even in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, are headed to a New Year's Six bowl game and boasting double-digit wins.
A day after Baylor's dramatic 21-16 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship, the Bears (11-2) and Ole Miss Rebels (10-2) both accepted invitations on Sunday to play in the 88th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2022.
The game will kick off at 7:45 p.m. CT at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and will be broadcast on ESPN.
"We're blessed to be in this position and to play in such a great bowl game in such a great venue in such a great city, a city that has a lot of meaning to me," said second-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda.
"And to play an opponent like Mississippi with Coach (Lane) Kiffin and just his track record and his expertise. I think it's a good contrast in styles, and we're looking forward to the challenge."
After a COVID-affected 2-7 debut season in 2020, Aranda led the Bears to their third Big 12 title in program history and a program-record-tying 11 wins. Baylor finished 11-2 in 2013 and 2014, then 11-3 with a Sugar Bowl berth two years ago with then-head coach Matt Rhule.
"I look back at just the last two years and the learning that has taken place and the growth that has taken place," said Aranda, who spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at LSU. "To try to achieve things that are bigger than just a solo pursuit, to achieve things for other people and to be a part of a team. Just to see that come together and be a part of that is very strong for me. It's inspiring."
Kiffin, who had previous head coaching stints at Florida Atlantic, USC and Tennessee and two years with the Oakland Raiders, led Ole Miss to a program-record 10 regular-season wins this season. Last year, the Rebels overcame a 1-3 start to win four of their last five, including beating seventh-ranked Indiana in the Outback Bowl.
Led by Heisman candidate Matt Corral at quarterback, the Rebels have the fourth-ranked offense in the country, averaging 506.7 yards and 35.9 points per game.
Under first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Baylor is one of the best-balanced offenses in the country, averaging 214.7 yards rushing and 216.0 yards passing per game. Baylor's defense has a Big 12-leading 16 interceptions and ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 19.2 points per game.
"This is an awesome opportunity to play a great program in Baylor, one that's extremely well-coached," Kiffin said. "I've gone against Coach Aranda's defenses before, at three different places. This will be four. Really great coach, done an unbelievable job."
Current Baylor Bear Foundation members can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. CT.
Baylor, appearing in its 10th bowl in the last 12 years, has an all-time record of 1-1 in the Sugar Bowl. This is the Bears' fourth appearance in a New Year's Six bowl following berths in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl and 2020 Sugar Bowl.
This will be just the second meeting all-time between Baylor and Ole Miss. The Bears won the only previous contest, 20-10, on Sept. 6, 1975, in Waco.
The New Orleans Marriott has been designated as the host hotel for Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This outstanding property is conveniently located on the city's renowned Canal Street, immediately adjacent to the world-famous French Quarter. Hotel packages will be available through Anthony Travel. Click here for more information.
All gates to the Superdome will open at 5:45 p.m. CT, two hours prior to kickoff. Baylor will be the visiting team and occupy the bench area on the east side of the stadium.
For the latest news on the Baylor football team, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
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