By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            FORT WORTH – Even growing up in the Midwest and playing his first two college seasons at the University of Iowa, Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle can't remember ever playing in a game where the wind-chill factor was below zero.
            The forecast for Thursday's Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl between Baylor (6-6) and Air Force (9-3) is 18 degrees at the 6:30 p.m. kickoff and a wind chill as low as minus-15 after a cold front comes through.
            "I may have at some point at Iowa," Doyle said. "But in Iowa, the outdoor games are done by November. By that time, we're playing in the dome at (Northern Iowa). I'm not sure I've ever played in negative wind chill, but I'm excited for every opportunity to step on the field and put our brand on tape."
            While Baylor coach Dave Aranda grew up in California, he has coached in colder venues at Wisconsin, Utah State and Southern Utah.
            "There have been games in all of our past with our players where you can't feel your fingers anymore," Aranda said. "You can't say the words you want to say because your mouth doesn't work anymore and your toes are cold.
            "Meanwhile, there is a great opposing force coming at you, unrelenting. This is the 'who wants it most' bowl. We have to fully attack that and put our best effort. . . . I know it will be something. We hope to overcome it."
            With a triple-option attack, Air Force's offense is made for the conditions, especially if the winds kick up as expected. The Falcons are No. 1 in the country in rushing offense, averaging 330.9 yards per game and 5.4 per attempt.
            Fullback Brad Roberts is third nationally, rushing for 1,612 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaging 5.2 per carry.
            "Their fullback, Brad Roberts, is super talented," Doyle said. "He can find a hole wherever it is. So, we have to be real disciplined defensively where they're trying to attack us. The biggest thing is discipline and playing fundamental football."
            Baylor has a much more balanced offense, averaging 235.1 yards passing and 194.1 yards rushing per game. Richard Reese set a program freshman rushing record with 962 yards and 14 TDs on 190 carries (5.1-yard average).
            Quarterback Blake Shapen has thrown for 2,602 yards and 16 touchdowns, completing 64.3% of his passes, and has also rushed for a pair of scores.
            "The further you study and prepare, (you see) how gifted they are," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. "They have tremendous size and have a great deal of experience. They are very electric. The other part that is impressive is just how they have been able to win over the last eight years."
            While Air Force is trying to record its second-straight 10-win season and third in the last four years, the Bears are playing in their 11^th bowl game in the last 13 years and need a win to avoid their third losing season in the last six years. Baylor is also looking to improve to 7-3 in its last 10 bowl games. 
            "I think the biggest thing about a bowl game is that's what you carry into your offseason," senior tight end Ben Sims said. "So, winning your bowl game means a whole bunch. We talked about last year with the Sugar Bowl, how important that would be to finish off that season with a win. And then going into this bowl season, how important it would be to not only finish with a win but to finish with a winning record."
            Baylor's defense will be missing two starters, with nose tackle Siaki Ika and cornerback Mark Milton both opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Baylor also lost four players in the transfer portal, including backup quarterback Kyron Drones.
            "The corners aren't as involved in this game because it's a very, very run-heavy offense just by the nature of it," Doyle said. "So, I guess that will hurt us a little less. Obviously, Apu is a big loss. . . . I'm always going to be a fan of him. He's such a positive person and excited for him and his family with the opportunity they have moving forward."
            After dismissing defensive coordinator Ron Roberts and safeties coach Ronnie Wheat at the end of the regular season, Aranda has assumed DC responsibilities for the bowl-game prep.
            "Going into it as coaches, the numbers are an 11-on-11 game and angles where you can have numbers," Aranda said. "But if they are bad, you have to address it. You must be hypersensitive to it and the adjustments that come to it. The players have to continue to execute their assignment, play after play, with plays that look the same but attack at different points. You get into the weeds quickly when you get into their offense."
            Thursday's game will be broadcast by ESPN, with Brian Custer, Dustin Fox and Lauren Sisler calling the action.
            "It's really an end of an era for me," said Doyle, a second-team All-Big 12 pick at both linebacker and fullback. "It's kind of turning the page to the next chapter in my life. . . Hopefully, I've left a legacy to be proud of, and hopefully I made my family and my teammates proud and everybody at Baylor. Every time I go out there, I want people to be proud they're Baylor Bears, and hopefully I've done that."


WACO, Texas – For the 11^th time in the last 13 years, Baylor football has advanced to a bowl and will be facing nine-win Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium. 
 
The game will be televised live on ESPN, with Brian Custer (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (sideline) on the call. The Baylor Sports Network from Learfield will also broadcast the game, with the Voice of the Bears, John Morris (play-by-play), J.J. Joe (analyst) and Ricky Thompson (sideline) voicing the contest. The game will also be on Bowl Season Radio, with Brian Estridge (play-by-play), Landry Burdine (analyst) and Chris Mycoskie (sideline) on the call. 
 
Baylor (6-6, 4-5 Big 12 Conference) will be facing Air Force (9-3, 5-3 Mountain West) in a matchup of two of the best rushing attacks in college football. Air Force – seeking its fifth straight win – leads the nation in rushing offense, time of possession and total defense. The Bears rank 34^th nationally in rushing offense and 17^th in time of possession. 
 
BOWL HISTORY: BEARS MAKE 11TH APPEARANCE IN LAST 13 YEARS
• For the 11th time in the last 13 years, the Baylor Bears are making a post-season bowl appearance, earning a spot in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on Dec. 22. 
• The Bears will be facing Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. 
• Baylor has advanced to 26 prior bowl games in its history (going 14-12) and has made two consecutive bowl trips under Coach Dave Aranda, also claiming the Sugar Bowl Title a year ago in New Orleans, topping Ole Miss 21-7. 
• The Bears first went to a bowl game in 1948, the Dixie Bowl which featured a 20-7 win over Wake Forest. Over the next 61 years, the Bears attended 16 bowl games, before starting a stretch of success in the program in 2010 that has seen Baylor attend bowls in 11 of 13 years. 
 
REESE RACKING UP AWARDS
• Baylor freshman running back Richard Reese has had a historic 2022 season in his collegiate debut and as such has earned a bevy of postseason awards. 
• The Bellville, Texas, native has been named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year and was also tabbed the Dave Campbell's Texas Football Offensive Freshman of the Year, honoring the top offensive freshman in the state of Texas. 
• Reese led the team with 190 carries for 962 yards and 14 TDs, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 80.2 yards per game. He ranks second in the nation among freshmen in rushing TDs and third among freshmen in rushing yards. He owns three 100-yard rushing performances and twice had games with three rushing TDs. Reese is the third player in program history and the Bears' first running back to earn the Offensive Freshman of the Year honor, joining quarterbacks Charlie Brewer (2017) and Robert Griffin III (2008).
 
19 BEARS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
• Baylor running back Richard Reese was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and 19 total Bears earned All-Big 12 recognition in a voting of the league's 10 head coaches.
• Reese was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year to highlight BU's honors. Junior defensive lineman Siaki Ika was tabbed to the All-Big 12 First Team, while Dillon Doyle – as a fullback and linebacker – was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, along with senior offensive linemen Jacob Gall and Connor Galvin.
• A total of 15 Bears earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a product of receiving a vote in the awards process. Reese, along with offensive standouts in wide receiver Monaray Baldwin, offensive linemen Micah Mazzccua and Grant Miller, wide receiver Hal Presley, quarterback Blake Shapen and tight end Ben Sims were each honored. Defensively, defensive lineman Gabe Hall, linebacker Matt Jones, safety Devin Lemear, cornerback Mark Milton and safety Al Walcott were named honorable mention. Additionally, Lemear garnered votes for Defensive Freshman of the Year. Returner Gavin Holmes, kicker John Mayers and punter Issac Power were also tabbed honorable mention.
• A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ika had another strong season for the Bears, a year after being named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. A 6-foot-4, 358-pound defensive lineman, Ika played in all 12 games with 11 starts, totaling 24 tackles, including two for a loss, with two pass breakups and five QB hurries. He also received votes for this year's Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
• Gall, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, earned votes for the Big 12's Offensive Lineman of the year during his 2022 season. A center who transferred from Buffalo for the 2021 season, Gall grades out as the seventh-best center in college football and the second-best in the league, owning an 80.5 rating by Pro Football Focus.
• A native of Katy, Texas, Galvin broke the career games started record at Baylor, starting 49 career games. This is his second-consecutive season earning All-Big 12 Conference honors, as a first-team selection a year ago, where he was named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Galvin graded out as the third-best tackle in the Big 12 by Pro Football Focus and as the 54th best tackle in the nation, earning a 76.5 rating.
• A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Doyle has capped a dynamic career for the Bears as the only player in conference history to be named All-Big 12 first- or second-team on both offense and defense in the same year. A heady middle linebacker by trade, Doyle has also served as the fullback for the Bears the last two years. Defensively, Doyle ranked tied for the team lead with 80 tackles, owning two interceptions, three QB hurries and two pass breakups. He has carried the ball six times in short-yardage and goal-line situations and owns two catches, including one touchdown.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• Baylor will be meeting Air Force for the third time in its history and the first time since a 38-7 win in 1977 in Waco. The teams have played two contests in Waco and once in Colorado Springs, with the Bears winning all three meetings by a combined score of 79-17. 
• The series opened in 1961 with a 31-7 win over Air Force in Waco. 
 
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
• Air Force enters the bowl game with a 9-3 record, having gone 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference, and having won four straight games to end the year. AF has wins over Northern Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, Navy, UNLV, Army, New Mexico, Colorado State and San Diego State, with losses to Wyoming, Utah State and Boise State. 
• The Falcons are led by head coach Troy Calhoun, who has directed Air Force since 2007 after a year as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. He has made coaching stops as the OC at Wake Forest and Ohio, also working with QBs at Ohio. He is the first Air Force Academy graduate to serve as the head coach and has led Air Force to four 10+ win seasons, including a 10-3 record last year, an 11-2 mark in 2019, and 10-3 records in 2016 and 2014. Air Force has been to 12 bowls under Calhoun and has played in the Armed Forces Bowl six times under his direction. 
• Calhoun is assisted by Charlie Jackson, the assistant head coach and DB coach; Tim Horton, the special teams coordinator; Brian Knorr, the defensive coordinator; and Mike Thiessen, the offensive coordinator. 
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing offense (330.9 yards per game), time of possession (36:16) and total defense (256.4 yards allowed per game). The Falcons also rank third in the nation in scoring defense (13.2 points allowed per game), and second in passing yards allowed (156.7 yards per game). AF ranks third in the country in fewest penalty yards (356). 
• Air Force is scoring 27.7 points per game, allowing 13.2, while totaling 398.7 yards per game offensively, surrendering 256.4. AF has attempted just 80 passes on the year and completed 37, an average of 3.08 completions per game. Fullback Brad Roberts leads the team with 1,612 rushing yards on the year with 15 TDs, averaging 134.3 yards per game. Tailback John Lee Eldridge III has rushed for 701 yards, while QB Haaziq Daniels has rushed for 614 yards and seven TDs. Daniels has completed 36 passes for 733 yards and six TDs. David Cormier has 13 catches for 384 yards - an average of 29.5 yards per catch - with four TDs. 
• Defensively, AF is led by TD Blackman, a senior inside linebacker, who has 67 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Free safety Trey Taylor has 66 tackles, while outside linebacker Vince Sanford owns 50 tackles, including a team-leading 5.5 sacks and seven QB hurries. 
 
No. 23 TEXAS OUTLASTS BEARS IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
• No. 23 Texas used a furious second-half rushing attack to erase a Baylor halftime lead and secure the 38-27 win over the Bears in the regular-season finale in Austin. The Bears opened the game with the first nine points, including a safety, and used a field goal and a late first-half TD drive to take a 19-17 lead into halftime. 
• Baylor was led offensively by freshman Richard Reese, who carried it 15 times for 54 yards, with Qualan Jones adding 14 carries for 45 yards. QB Blake Shapen threw for 179 yards and two TDs on 18 of 36 passing, with Jones grabbing six catches. Josh Cameron had four grabs for 48 yards, while Jaylen Ellis had a 47-yard TD catch in the first quarter and Ben Sims had a 14-yard TD grab late in the second quarter. 
• Bijan Robinson went for 179 yards and two TDs on 29 carries, with Roschon Johnson rushing for two TDs on 13 carries. Quinn Ewers had a key sack fumble in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, that allowed Gabe Hall to return a fumble for 16 yards and a 27-24 lead. It was the last time Texas would attempt to pass, rushing it for the remaining 23 offensive plays from scrimmage - using the no huddle and from shotgun for each play. 
• Al Walcott led the Bears defensively with 10 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, while UT was led by a 14-tackle outing from DeMarvion Overshown and a 13-tackle effort from Jaylan Ford. 
• Texas ended the game going for 402 yards of total offense, including 208 yards on the ground with five TDs. 
 
BEARS IN NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS
• Baylor ranks among the nation's top 30 leaders in 10 categories, including checking in No. 12 in fourth-down conversions, 20th in fewest penalties, 20th in passes intercepted and 17th in time of possession. 
• Individually, Richard Reese ranks 14th in rushing TDs and 41st in rushing yards. 
 
ROAD CONFERENCE WIN RECORD 
• Baylor went 3-2 in the Big 12 Conference on the road in 2022, which was just a win shy of equaling the program record for the most wins on the road in conference play, also done with 4-0 records in 2019, 1991 (SWC) and 1980 (SWC). 
• Baylor has won three or more road games in league play only six times (2022, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013) in the last 30 years and only five times in its history in the Big 12 Conference, which dates back to 1996.
• The Bears went through a 37-game stretch from 1995-2005 without a road conference win, going 0-4 in every year from 1996-2004. Baylor was 2-50 in road conference games from 1996-2008. 
 
MOST INTERCEPTIONS IN TWO-GAME SPAN IN 42 YEARS
• Baylor picked off five passes in a win over Texas Tech in Lubbock and then picked off three passes - in the first half - at Oklahoma. It marked the most interceptions in a two-game span since 1980, when the Bears had four interceptions each in consecutive games vs. TCU and San Jose State. 
 
SIX BEARS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT BY CoSIDA
• A total of six Baylor football standouts have earned Academic All-District accolades from the College Sports Information Directors Association. Dillon Doyle (3.97 GPA, business administration, master's), Jacob Gall (3.58 GPA, sports management, master's), John Mayers (3.89 GPA, sports management, master's), Brooks Miller (3.6, health/kinesiology/leisure studies), Issac Power (3.77 GPA, sports management, master's) and Brayden Utley (3.52 GPA, sports management, master's) were each honored with academic all-district accolades. The six are now eligible for Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA. 
 
BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL HIGHLIGHT WELL-ROUNDED BEARS
• Baylor has a football team playing for a bowl, two top-25 basketball teams and a volleyball team competing in the Sweet 16. The Bears are one of only two schools in the nation, joining Ohio State, to accomplish this feat in 2022.
 
REESE AMONG NATION'S BEST FRESHMEN
• Baylor freshman running back Richard Reese is off to a hot start to his collegiate career, leading the Bears in rushing through his first 12 NCAA games. 
• Reese has 962 yards rushing over 190 carries with 14 TDs, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 80.2 yards per game. 
• A native of Bellville, Texas, Reese has three games with 100+ yards, including consecutive games vs. Kansas and at Texas Tech. Among NCAA freshmen, Reese ranks second in rushing TDs and third in rushing yards.
• On Nov. 23, Reese was announced as a semifinalist for the Earl Campebll Tyler Rose Award, given annually to the best offensive player with Texas ties and he was tabbed the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in an end-of-season voting by the league's coaches. 
 
BAYLOR'S MILITARY TIES
• With Baylor competing in the Lockheed Forces Armed Forces Bowl, it allows Baylor football an opportunity to celebrate those in the program who have military ties.
• In addition to the players listed below, several members of the staff have military connections, including assistant coaches Shawn Bell (grandfather; Army), Kevin Curtis (grandfather; Army) and Jeff Grimes (father; Air Force). 
 
CHASING RUSH DEFENSE HISTORY
• The Bears opened the 2022 season holding each of their first four opponents, and five of their first seven, to under 100 rushing yards. It marked the longest streak of consecutive games holding foes to under 100 yards on the ground since 1953, when the Bears held opponents in games 2-6 (Miami, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, TCU) to under 100 yards rushing. 
• The season program standard for holding an opponent to 100 yards or fewer on the ground came in 1986, when the Bears held Wyoming, LA Tech, USC, Houston, Texas A&M, Rice and Texas to under 100 yards rushing. BU held six opponents to 100 yards or fewer on the ground during the historic 2021 season. 
• A total of 11 opponents in the last two years haven't reached 100 yards rushing, the best two-season total in program annals.
 
BAYLOR LEADS NATION IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL WINS
• Baylor athletics is in the midst of a historic run of success, including recent national titles in men's and women's basketball, and football coming off a Big 12 Conference Championship in 2021 and the 2022 Sugar Bowl. 
• Since 2011, and as of Sept. 28, 2022, no other school can compete with Baylor's run, as the Bears lead the nation in wins combined among football, and men's and women's basketball. Baylor has 56 more wins than the next closest school, Notre Dame. The next Big 12 Conference team on the list is West Virginia at No. 22 and Texas at No. 25. 
 
FRESHMAN RUSHING RECORD SECURED
• Baylor running back Richard Reese set a program record for rushing yards by a freshman with 56 yards rushing in the matchup with No. 4 TCU and now owns 962 yards rushing on the year. 
• Reese passed Shock Linwood for the program record, with Linwood rushing for 881 yards in 2013. 
 
KANSAS STATE SNAPS BAYLOR WIN STREAK
• Kansas State posted a 31-3 win over Baylor to snap a three-game BU winning streak in front of the ninth-largest crowd in McLane Stadium history. 
• The Wildcats scored the first 17 points of the game and held complete control of the contest following an interception on Baylor's first drive of the game. Baylor cut the lead to 17-3 with a field goal from John Mayers to end the first half but couldn't muster anything the remaining 30 minutes as the Wildcats scored TDs in each quarter for a 28-point win. 
• Kansas State held the football for 37:37 in the game and had the ball for over 11 minutes in the first and fourth quarters. The Wildcats rolled to 184 yards on the ground and threw for 221 yards as backup QB Will Howard replaced Adrian Martinez in the first quarter and threw for 196 yards and three TDs. Deuce Vaughn had 25 carries for 106 yards and added eight grabs for 50 yards and a TD. 
• Baylor freshman Richard Reese led the offense with nine carries for 54 yards, with Blake Shapen throwing for 203 yards. Monaray Baldwin set a new career high with eight grabs, while Josh Cameron had career highs in catches (six) and yards (83). Defensively, Al Walcott had 11 tackles, a career best.  
 
BAYLOR POWERS PAST OU IN NORMAN
• Baylor used a defense that forced three first-half interceptions and a rushing offense that rolled to 281 yards and five TDs to post a 38-35 win at Oklahoma, marking its second-consecutive win over the Sooners and its second all-time win in Norman. 
• This marked just the third time since 2010 that a team has beaten OU in consecutive seasons, also done in 2019-20 by Kansas State and by the Bears in 2013-14. 
• The Bears trailed after an opening TD drive from the Sooners and after answering to even the game, never trailed again, getting a heroic performance from junior Craig Williams, who set new career highs in carries (25), yards (192) and TDs (two), while filling in for freshman standout Richard Reese, who was one of many Bears hit with a stomach bug. 
• Baylor also got rushing TDs from Qualan Jones, Jordan Nabors and Reese - who was limited to four carries - and got a career game from WR Josh Cameron, who had five grabs for 72 yards, both career highs. 
• Defensively, Dillon Doyle had a career-high-tying 15 tackles and picked off his second pass of the year. The Bears also got interceptions from freshman safety Devin Lemear and senior safety Christian Morgan. 
 
BAYLOR ROUTS TECH BEHIND STINGY DEFENSE
• Baylor won its second consecutive with a 45-17 rout of Texas Tech, earning its first win in Lubbock since 1990 in a series that was played in Dallas-Fort Worth for 10 consecutive years. 
• The Bears rolled over Texas Tech, opening up a 24-3 lead midway through the third quarter and then scoring 21 unanswered in the fourth quarter after the Red Raiders cut the lead to 24-17. Baylor forced three Tech QBs to combined to throw five interceptions, its most in a game since 1989, getting one returned for a touchdown by AJ McCarty to clinch the win. 
• The Bears completely dominated in all phases, owning the ball for 40 minutes and 17 seconds - their second-consecutive game with over 40 minutes of possession time - while running for 231 yards and throwing for 211. 
• The high-octane Tech offense was held to 159 yards passing on 12 of 38, rushing for 149 yards, including 31 yards on the final play of the first half.
• The Red Raiders saw freshman sensation Richard Reese run for 148 yards and three scores on 36 carries, while Blake Shapen added 211 yards and a score on 19 of 30 passing. Defensively, BU had six sacks, including three from defensive lineman Gabe Hall. McCarty, Al Walcott, Devin Lemear, Mark Milton and Tevin Williams III each had interceptions. 
 
BEARS RUN PAST KANSAS 
• Baylor used a powerful running game to post a homecoming win over upstart Kansas, stretching BU's win streak to 13 straight against the Jayhawks. The Bears owned a 28-3 lead at halftime behind TDs from Monaray Baldwin, Richard Reese, Kyron Drones and Jordan Nabors. 
• Making his first-career start, Reese rolled to career highs in rushes (31) and yards (186), while finding paydirt twice. He capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a two-yard tote to push Baylor's lead to 12 points with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter, solidifying the win after Kansas had scored 20 unanswered to open the second half.
• Shapen threw for 164 yards and a score on a windy day that made passing a challenge. BU also got 71 yards rushing on nine carries from Qualan Jones. 
 
HALL, REESE HONORED FOLLOWING TECH WIN
• Baylor's Gabe Hall and Richard Reese were honored following the win at Texas Tech, with Hall earning Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Reese named Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week. 
• It marks the second newcomer of the week nod for Reese, who also earned the honor in week 4, and the first weekly honor for Hall. 
• Reese rushed a career-high 36 times for 148 yards and three TDs in the win, his second-consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing and his third of the year. Reese has twice had a three-TD game, also turning the trick in a win over Texas State. 
• Hall notched his second-career three-sack outing and his first of 2022. A preseason All-Big 12 Conference selection by Pick Six Preview, Athlon and Phil Steele, Hall is one of 12 BU players with sacks on the year. In the win over Texas Tech, BU totaled six sacks and had five interceptions. 
 
FOURTH-DOWN AGGRESSIVENESS
• Baylor under Coach Dave Aranda is one of the most aggressive teams in college football on fourth down. The Bears rank second nationally in fourth-down conversions (27), trailing only Texas Tech (28).
• The Bears have converted 65.9 percent of their fourth-down attempts, which ranks seventh among teams that have attempted 15+ fourth-down tries. 
 
18 STRAIGHT GAMES HOLDING OPPONENT UNDER 30
• Over the course of the 2021 season through the start of 2022, Baylor's defense put up a historic run, the likes of which haven't been seen in 36 years, holding 18 consecutive opponents to 30 or fewer points. 
• It was the longest such Baylor streak in the modern-era of college football and the longest since 1984-86. Only three times since 1964 has Baylor had a streak of 18 or more games holding an opponent to 30 or fewer points, also doing it in 1979-81, a 25-game stretch. 
• The Bears were one of only three teams to hold each opponent of 2021 under 30 points, joining Clemson and Cincinnati. Last year, Baylor on average held opponents to 10.6 points per game below their averages in other games. 
 
HISTORIC TIME OF POSSESSION IN KANSAS, TECH WINS
• The Bears held the football for 40 minutes and 10 seconds in the win over Kansas, including for 12 minutes in the second quarter.
• In the following game, BU held the football for 40 minutes and 17 seconds in a win at Texas Tech, including over 22 minutes in the first 30 ticks. 
• It marked the longest time of possessions for Baylor in a game since a 14-0 win over NC State in 1995, when the Bears held it for 41:31. Baylor also held the football for 40:01 in a tilt with SMU in 1993. 
 
SECOND-MOST WINS IN TEXAS IN LAST 10+ YEARS
• As of Nov. 19, Baylor has won 96 games since 2011, second most among the state of Texas' 12 FBS teams.
• BU's 96 wins in the last 10+ years are shy of Houston (97) and tied with Texas A&M (96) and TCU (96), and ahead of Texas (84), SMU (70), Texas Tech (69), UTSA (69), North Texas (66), Rice (54), UTEP (43) and Texas State (39).
 
KHALIL KEITH IMPACTS OFFENSIVE ATTACK
• Baylor entered the season with the expectation that its offensive line would be one of the top units in college football. After working to find its footing early in the year, the offensive line unit - led by assistant coach Eric Mateos - has blossomed into a physical weapon, paving the way for emerging running back forces in Richard Reese, Craig Williams and Qualan Jones. 
• One key ingredient to the play of the offensive line over a five-week span has been the return from injury for sixth-year senior right tackle Khalil Keith. A 6-foot-5, 314-pound force, Keith missed the first six games of the year while recovering from injury, with Gavin Byers starting the first seven games at right tackle. Now that Keith has returned - playing off the bench vs. Kansas and starting vs. Texas Tech, Oklahoma, K-State, TCU and Texas - the offensive attack has improved. 
 
HOLDING SERVE AT McLANE
• Baylor owns a 12-5 record at McLane Stadium under the direction of Coach Dave Aranda, including a 10-3 mark over the last two years. The Bears had a nine-game winning streak at home snapped in a loss to Oklahoma State.
 
SECOND-MOST INTS IN NATION IN LAST TWO YEARS
• Baylor has picked off 32 passes over the last two years and currently ranks 15th in the nation and first in the Big 12 with 13 in interceptions in 2022. 
• Only Iowa (36) has more interceptions in the last two years, with Baylor just ahead of third-place Kansas State (31). 
 
BEARS FALL IN MORGANTOWN 
• Baylor suffered the loss at West Virginia, 43-40, on Thursday, Oct. 13, as the Mountaineers rallied past the Bears to erase an electric offensive outing.
• The Bears rolled to 590 yards of total offense, including 421 through the air, but a key targeting penalty on an attempted slide from QB Blake Shapen led to a head injury for the signal caller and ended what was a historic outing for the sophomore. Shapen threw for 326 yards - including 294 in the first half - to lead the Bears to a 17-7 lead early and a 24-17 halftime lead despite a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by WVU in the second quarter. Freshman QB Kyron Drones stepped up, throwing for 95 yards on 7 of 14 passing with a TD. 
• The loss dampened the historic outing from senior WR Gavin Holmes, who caught seven balls for 210 yards and a score. He was the first Baylor player with a 200+ yard receiving game since KD Cannon in the 2016 Cactus Bowl. 
• Richard Reese rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries, with Qualan Jones adding 44 yards and one TD on 10 totes. TE Drake Dabney had five catches for 66 yards. 
• The WVU offense went for 500 yards of total offense, including 223 on the ground and 163 and two TDs from Tony Mathis. 
 
PERSON > PLAYER
• A hallmark of Coach Dave Aranda's philosophy in building a program is placing an importance on understanding that the person is more important than the player. This mantra is executed in everything the program touches on a daily basis. Throughout the football building, signage adorns the walls that emphasize, "better people make better players" and that Baylor will "win with character". 
• Aranda preaches that players focus on today and be authentically themselves in an effort to be comfortable and confident in their roles.
 
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
• Baylor has forced considerably more turnovers than it has allowed in 35 games under head coach Dave Aranda.
• BU has 65 takeaways (45 INTs, 19 FR) and 41 giveaways (26 INTs, 15 FL) in 35 games under Aranda.
• Baylor has scored 11 non-offensive touchdowns in 35 games under Aranda – three kickoff returns (Ebner x 3), five interception returns (Pitre x 2, McCarty, Walcott, Woods), one punt return (Holmes) and two fumble returns (Hall, Woods).
 
22 FORMER BEARS ON NFL ROSTERS IN 2022
• A total of 22 Baylor football greats are on NFL rosters to open the 2022 season.
• Terrel Bernard is one of six Baylor players who were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft and is one of eight BU rookies set for the 2022 season. 
• The Houston Texans boast an NFL-high four former Bears, including safety Grayland Arnold, wide receiver Drew Estrada, safety Jalen Pitre and long snapper Jon Weeks. The Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers each boast two Baylor Bears on 2022 rosters. 
 
RANKED IN 10 OF LAST 13 SEASONS
• Baylor has been ranked or receiving votes in 10 of 15 polls in 2022.
• Baylor has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 10 of 13 seasons since 2010, after going 17 years between national rankings (1993-2010). BU has been ranked in 23 of 25 spots since 2013 (exceptions No. 1 and No. 23).
 
JEFF GRIMES A BROYLES AWARD NOMINEE
• Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has been nominated for the Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach. 
• Grimes is one of 51 coaches nationally nominated for the award, and among Big 12 Conference assistant coaches is joined by Iowa State's Jon Heacock, Kansas State's Joe Klanderman and TCU's Garrett Riley. 
 
NON-CONFERENCE WRAP
• Baylor wrapped up non-conference play with a 2-1 record and improved to 7-1 in non-league games under Coach Dave Aranda. 
• Since the Big 12 went to a nine-game conference model in the regular season, the Bears have gone a combined 38-9 - including bowl games and league title games - in non-conference games, an 81 percent winning clip.
• Baylor averaged 43.7 points, 234.7 rushing yards, 219.7 passing yards and 454.3 yards of total offense in non-league play, holding opponents to 14.3 points, 84 rushing yards and 206 passing yards per game. 
 
SPREADING IT AROUND
• The Bears have spread the football around in the passing game in 2022. Baylor ranks tied for third in the nation as of Oct. 28, with completions to 18 different players. Only Tulane and Michigan (20) and NC State, Penn State, Oregon and Colorado (19) have been more diversified. 
 
DECEMBER GRADUATES
• The Bears have seven players set to graduate in December, several with master's degrees, including Dillon Doyle, TJ Franklin, John Mayers, Grant Miller, Tripp Mitchell, Griffin Speaks and Al Walcott.
 
ARANDA THROUGH 35 GAMES IN BAYLOR HISTORY
• Dave Aranda is 20-15 in his first 35 games as the Baylor head coach, which is the most since Chuck Reedy went 20-15 from 1993-95. Only George Sauer (1950-52), Morley Jenkins (1926-28), Frank Bridges (1920-22) and Charles P. Mosely (1914-16) has more wins through the first 35 games of their BU head coaching career. 
 
NO. 9/7 OKLAHOMA ST. RIDES HOT START TO 36-25 WIN
• No. 16/14 Baylor fell behind 23-3 early in the third quarter to No. 9/7 Oklahoma State and couldn't overcome the hole during a furious rally that saw BU cut the lead to a one-score game later in the quarter, falling 36-25 to the Cowboys in a rematch of the 2021 Big 12 Conference Championship Game. 
• Baylor found itself down 23-3 after allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown early in the third quarter but responded with 14-straight points to cut the lead to 23-17. OSU answered with a 50 yard kickoff return on the ensuing possession and took two plays to regain a 30-17 lead. The lead grew to 33-17 before Baylor got a 70-yard TD strike from Blake Shapen to Monaray Baldwin - their second TD connection of the game - with a two-point conversion cutting it to an eight-point game with 2:14 left in the third quarter. 
• Baylor threw an interception on its own 33-yard line with 8:52 left in the game, and OSU finished an eight-play drive with a field goal for an 11-point lead it wouldn't relinquish. 
• Shapen threw for a career-high 345 yards, with the two scores to Baldwin, who had a career-high seven catches for 174 yards. Richard Reese rushed 17 times for 85 yards and his NCAA-freshmen leading seventh TD of the year. Linebacker Dillon Doyle had a team-leading 10 tackles. 
• Spencer Sanders threw for 181 yards for the Cowboys, also rushing 14 times for 75 yards. Dominic Richardson had 24 carries for 73 yards and a score. Jaden Nixon had the big blow of the game, a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD in the third quarter. 
 
BAYLOR CLAIMS LEAGUE OPENER IN AMES
• Baylor rolled to a 31-24 win over Iowa State in Ames to open league play, owning a 31-14 lead in the fourth quarter and using an efficient offensive attack to secure the win. 
• The Bears got 238 yards and three TDs passing from Blake Shapen, and 78 yards and a rushing TD from freshman Richard Reese to pull away from the Cyclones and earn the first Baylor win in Ames since 2016. 
• The Baylor defense forced two interceptions and held ISU to just 66 yards rushing, totaling four sacks, including two from linebacker Bryson Jackson. 
• Shapen found Ben Sims, Dillon Doyle and Gavin Holmes for TD strikes, with Holmes going for three catches and 92 yards. His 38-yard scoring grab pushed Baylor's lead to 31-14 with 9:37 left in the fourth quarter. The Cyclones cut the lead to 10 with a 75-play drive and added a field goal to set up an impactful on-side kick attempt in the closing seconds, which was grabbed by BU linebacker Matt Jones to clinch the win. 
 
BEARS ROUT TEXAS STATE TO CONCLUDE NON-LEAGUE
• Baylor used a 42-7 rout of Texas State to conclude non-conference play, getting 501 yards of total offense, including 293 yards and five TDs on the ground, to post the convincing win. 
• The Bears got an explosive game from freshman Richard Reese, who had career highs in carries (19), yards (156) and TDs (three) to help Baylor secure the win. BU owned a 14-0 lead before the Bobcats got on the board and then ripped off 28 unanswered points to extend the lead to 42-7 early in the fourth quarter, emptying the bench in a game that saw Baylor missing six listed starters due to injury. 
• Blake Shapen threw for 184 yards and a TD and rushed for 42 yards, including a 35-yard TD scamper in the first half. Gavin Holmes grabbed his first TD catch since 2020 and Craig Williams added 56 yards and a score on the ground. Defensively, Al Walcott had nine tackles, two for a loss and a forced fumble, while AJ McCarty added seven tackles. Brooks Miller made five tackles, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss. 
 
NO. 21/25 BYU OUTLASTS BEARS IN 2OT THRILLER
• Baylor hit the road for its first test away from McLane Stadium and fell in a two-overtime thriller at No. 21/25 BYU 26-20, in front of 63,470 at a rocking LaVell Edwards Stadium. 
• The Bears battled the Cougars in a matchup of two future Big 12 Conference foes in an electric atmosphere in Provo. BU took its first lead on a Qualan Jones' TD rush - his first of two on the night - but after a missed PAT, the Cougars used an eight-play, 75-yard drive to conclude the half with a 10-6 lead. BU answered with a second-half opening drive of 77 yards for a 13-10 lead, and the teams traded TDs in the third and fourth quarters to take a 20-20 game into the final seconds, where BYU kicker Jake Oldroyd missed a potential game-winning field goal. 
• Both teams missed field goals - including the potential walk-off winner from Oldroyd - in the first OT period and BYU punched it in to open the second OT but missed the two-point conversion try. Baylor then used 11 plays in its game-tying or game-winning bid on its possession, with Blake Shapen's fourth-down throw sailing high to allow the Cougars to escape with the win. 
• BYU threw for 283 yards and rushed for 83, while Baylor rushed for 152 yards and threw for 137 in the loss but was handcuffed by 14 penalties for 117 yards. Craig Williams totaled 68 yards rushing on 17 carries, Jones had 67 yards on 16 carries and Shapen threw for 137 yards and a score to Ben Sims. 
 
BEARS ROLL OVER GREAT DANES IN LID-LIFTER
• Baylor opened the 2022 season in efficient fashion, routing UAlbany, 69-10, on Sept. 3 in front of a McLane Stadium crowd. The Bears got 214 yards and two TDs through the air, and one on the ground, from sophomore QB Blake Shapen - all in the first half - while rolling to the season-opening win. 
• BU played 89 players in the win, with seven Bears making their first-career starts. Gavin Holmes returned from a missed 2021 season due to injury to return a punt 72 yards for a TD in the first half, Shapen found Monaray Baldwin and Hal Presley for TD passes, Baldwin scored on the ground from 50 yards away and Craig Williams scored from four yards out to help BU build an insurmountable lead. 
 
GRIMES BRINGS RVO TO WACO
• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes - entering his second year at Baylor - has brought RVO to Waco - "Reliable Violent Offense" - an attacking, multiple-formation offense that runs a few plays a lot of ways with as much misdirection as any team in the country.
• Baylor's offense ended the year in 2021 ranked 10th in rushing offense (219.3 yards per game), 19th in fewest interceptions thrown (seven), 14th in fewest sacks allowed (1.29/game), 20th in time of possession (31:31) and 40th in scoring offense (31.6). 
• The Bears increased their rushing output by 129 yards per game from 2020 (219.3 ypg, up from 90.3 ypg), without sacrificing the passing game (203.4 passing yards per game in 2021, 219.9 ypg in 2020).
• Grimes' 2020 BYU offense finished third nationally in scoring (43.5 ppg) and seventh in total offense (522.2 ypg).
• Joining Grimes in making the move from Provo to Waco in 2021 was offensive line coach Eric Mateos, who spent two seasons at BYU. Mateos' offensive line ranked eighth nationally in 2020 with 1.0 sacks allowed per game, and the Bears ranked 14th nationally with only 1.29 sacks allowed per game in 2021.
 
FIRST 12-WIN SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• The Bears set a school record with a 12-2 season in 2021, topping the previous standard of 11 wins (11-2 in 2013, 11-2 in 2014, 11-3 in 2019).
• Baylor recorded its seventh 10-win season in program history. BU had one 10-win season in the program's first 109 years (10-2 in 1980) before reaching the 10-win mark in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
• The Bears won the 2021 Sugar Bowl and appeared in a bowl for the 10th time in 12 seasons since snapping a 15-year streak without a bowl bid between the 1994 Alamo Bowl and the 2010 Texas Bowl.
• Baylor's 10 bowls in 12 years is unprecedented in program history. Baylor's first 10 bowl games were over a 33-year span (1948-1980) and its 10 most recent bowls prior to 2010 were over a 32-year span (1963-1994).
 
ARANDA ONE OF TOP DEFENSIVE MINDS IN COUNTRY
• Third-year head coach Dave Aranda has earned a reputation as one of the nation's top defensive minds over his 20-plus-year career, including stops as defensive coordinator at LSU, Wisconsin, Utah State and Hawaii.
• Aranda led the LSU defense in 2019 as the Tigers posted a perfect 15-0 record and won the National Title with a 42-25 victory over Clemson in CFP National Championship Game.
• In six seasons as defensive coordinator at Power 5 schools from 2014-19, his defenses were ranked top-12 nationally in total yards five times. The units also ranked top-10 in scoring four times in seven years from 2013-19.
 
NATION'S SECOND-MOST EXPERIENCED O-LINE
• Baylor returns four starters on the offensive line and has had five players return who have started at least eight games on the offensive line. This makes the Bears one of the nation's most experienced offensive lines returning in 2022 to enter the year. 
• Only eight schools return five offensive line starters and 31 schools have at least four returning. 
• Entering the year, the Bears rank second in the nation with 171 games played returning from their four returning starters with five BU offensive linemen combining to play in 201 career games. 
• Only Wake Forest (172 career games played) has more returning games played among its returning starters entering 2022. Baylor also ranks fifth nationally in career starts returning among its starters, behind only George State (141), Pitt (130), Georgia Southern (127) and UTSA (118). 
 
SIX BEARS NABBED IN NFL DRAFT
• Baylor tied a program record with six players picked in the 2022 NFL Draft, led by four top-three round selections, including safety Jalen Pitre, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, safety JT Woods and linebacker Terrel Bernard.
 
SHAPEN IS QB1
• Baylor sophomore Blake Shapen won the quarterback competition after a strong spring practice. The 2021 Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player, Shapen set a Big 12 Championship and AT&T Stadium (college games) record with 17-straight completions in the first half vs. Oklahoma State. 
• Shapen played in six games with two starts in 2021 after a redshirt season in 2020, throwing for 596 yards and five TDs without an interception, completing 72.1 percent of his attempts. 
• A native of Shreveport, La., Shapen came to Baylor as a two-sport athlete, and was on the baseball 2021 roster after coming out of high school as the No. 1-ranked high school shortstop prospect and the fourth-best HS prospect overall in Louisiana. 
• He prepped at Evangel Christian Academy, where he was a four-star prospect according to ESPN and was ranked as the No. 22 QB nationally. 
 
ANTHONY A RARE SEVENTH-YEAR SENIOR
• Baylor quarterback Luke Anthony is a rare seventh-year senior who will be entering his final season of collegiate eligibility. Anthony transferred to BU for 2022 after opening his career at Abilene Christian and Louisiana Tech. He was named the 2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year while in Ruston, La., where he spent two seasons after playing the 2016-19 seasons at ACU, where he was a two-year captain and the 2018 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. He threw for 2,525 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2019. 
• Anthony is one of 23 student-athletes around the nation who are in at least their seventh year as a collegiate player. He is one of four Big 12 Conference student-athletes who are in their seventh year, including Will Honas (Kansas State), Monte' McGary (Kansas) and Colby Reeder (Iowa State). 
 
SIMS A WEAPON AT TIGHT END
• Senior tight end Ben Sims is one of the most accomplished pass catchers in Baylor's storied history. A 6-foot-5, 258-pound product of San Antonio's Clark High School, Sims ranks as the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns by a tight end with 12. 
• Sims is a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection by Athlon and Phil Steele after an honorable mention season in 2021 as voted on by the league's coaches and media. He started 13 of 14 games in 2021 and ranked fourth in receiving yards as a junior. 
 
JACKSON HELPS LEAD A STACKED LINEBACKER ROOM
• In addition to standouts Dillon Doyle and Matt Jones, the linebacker room is also led by sixth-year senior Bryson Jackson. A 6-foot-2, 204 pounder out of Mansfield, Texas, Jackson has played in 45 career games with the Bears, owning 9.5 TFLs. He played in all 14 games in 2021, after serving as a special-teams weapon in 2019 and 2020. 
• Jackson came to Baylor after earning all-district honors at Lake Ridge HS in Mansfield. He redshirted the 2017 season and did not see action until playing in 13 of 14 games as a sophomore in 2019. 
 
REPLACING OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS
• A storyline in the preseason entering 2022 centered on how the Bears can replace skill position weapons on the offensive side. Baylor must replace its top three rushers from 2021, including Abram Smith, who totaled a school-record 1,621 yards on the ground with 12 TDs, and Trestan Ebner, who had 799 yards and two scores on 148 carries. BU also lost its top two receivers, Tyquan Thornton and R.J. Sneed, who combined for 108 catches, 1,521 yards and 12 TDs through the air a year ago. 
• A talented cast of characters sits poised to step up in 2022 to replace productive offensive weapons. At running back, Taye McWilliams, Qualan Jones and Craig "Sqwirl" Williams are returning weapons, with freshman Richard Reese, and 2021 redshirt Jordan Jenkins in a position to fill the void.
• At wide receiver, Baylor benefits from the return of sixth-year senior Gavin Holmes, a native of Justin, Texas, who missed the 2021 - and 2018 - seasons due to injuries. Holmes has 46 career catches - including 33 in 2020 - as the most productive returning wide out on the 2022 roster. 
• Sophomores Monary Baldwin and Hal Presley have each earned a top spot on the depth chart heading into the 2022 season. Baldwin had a highlight of the 2021 season, scampering for a 48-yard TD rush in the Sugar Bowl. Other potential pass catchers out wide features freshman Jordan Nabors and redshirt freshmen Javon Gipson and Josh Cameron. 
 
VETERAN PRESENCE
• A stalwart for the Baylor defense is senior linebacker Dylan Doyle. A 6-foot-3, 240-pound product of Iowa City, Iowa, Doyle has been a leader in the middle of the Bears-defense since transferring from Iowa for the 2020 season. Doyle ranked 20th in the Big 12 in tackles per game as a sophomore before starring in 2021 for a stout defensive unit that ranked among the tops in the nation. 
• Doyle started all 14 games in 2021 and had 91 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for a loss. He was a second-team All-Texas Linebacker by Dave Campbell's Texas Football and led the team in tackles in five outings. 
• Doyle has done more than just lead the defense over his first two seasons, also starring against BYU with a rushing and receiving TD, adding a sack and four tackles, as the Bears bested the Cougars. 
• He will be charged with taking on an enhanced leadership role in 2022 after the Bears lost standout defenders in safety Jalen Pitre and linebacker Terrel Bernard to NFL Draft selections in the first three rounds. 
 
MATT JONES SHIFTS INSIDE
• With the departure of standout linebacker Terrel Bernard to the NFL, the Bears have shifted versatile junior Matt Jones to the inside linebacker role. Regarded as one of Baylor's best 11 defensive players a year ago, coordinator Ron Roberts found a role for Jones, primarily at outside linebacker - known in the BU system as the "JACK" -  in an effort to get Jones on the field. 
• As a fourth-year player who has played in 27 career games, Jones' shift to the inside backer comes after he had 52 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for a loss, starting nine games. He starred in a game at Oklahoma State in 2021, going for 14 tackles with a forced fumble. 
• Jones, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound native of Odessa, Texas, enters the season as a first-team preseason All-Big 12 honoree by Phil Steele. 
• The inside linebacker role is vitally important in Coach Dave Aranda and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts' system, and the return of Jones and Dillon Doyle give the Bears the opportunity to lean on experienced players at the middle level of the defense and frees up the staff to run its impactful multiple-scheme format. 
 
WALCOTT TO STAR
• One defensive backfield position shift in fall camp has been the transition of senior Al Walcott to the "STAR" position. In Coach Dave Aranda and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts' scheme, Walcott will have the opportunity to play the hybrid position that saw Jalen Pitre excel and earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021. 
• A preseason All-Big 12 fourth-team selection by Athlon, Walcott - a 6-foot-2, 219-pounder - played corner for his first three years on the Brazos, including making eight starts in 2021. He had 30 tackles as a junior, and his 96-yard interception return for a TD in the 2021 Sugar Bowl was the second-longest in program history. 
• Walcott, a native of Wilmington, N.C., joined the Bears after playing in 2019 at Butler [Kan.] Community College, where he helped the squad to a 10-3 record with a 70-tackle and three-interception season. 
 
MILTON, MORGAN ANCHOR DB GROUP
• Baylor returns several key contributors from its 2021 defensive unit, including fifth-year seniors in cornerback Mark Milton and safety Christian Morgan. 
• The two defensive stalwarts will be expected to help lead a defensive unit that must replace Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard, who have graduated on to the NFL. 
• Milton, nicknamed "MJ," has played in 42 games, including all 14 in 2021 with a pair of starts. He ranked 12th on the team in tackles while adding a pair of pass break-ups and a fumble recovery. 
• Morgan has played in 46 games in his career with 21 starts and enters the season as a preseason All-Big 12 Third-Team selection by Phil Steele and a fourth-team honoree by Athlon. 
• A native of Houston, Morgan played in 12 games with 10 starts as a senior in 2021, pacing the team with six pass break-ups. He had three interceptions in 2020, starting all eight games he saw action.
 
SPECIAL SPECIALISTS
• Baylor boasts a strong special teams contingent, including returning starters at placekicker (Isaiah Hankins), kickoff specialist (Noah Rauschenberg) and punter (Issac Power). The Bears are deep at kicker, as Hankins returns after going 14 of 20 in field-goal attempts in 2021, while also drilling 57 of 57 PATs. 
• Rauschenberg excelled in the kickoff-specialist role a year ago, booting 72 of his 81 kickoffs for a touchback. A total of 18 of his 33 kickoffs in 2020 went for a touchback and 34 of his 56 kickoffs in 2019 were a touchback. 
• Power established himself as one of the top punters in college football in 2021. He had a 44.98 per punt average with 20 downed inside the 20-yard line and 20 going for 50 or more yards. Power averaged 40.35 yards per punt in 2020 with 11 inside the 20 and seven going for 50+. In 2019, Power had a 40.33 average with 23 inside the 20 and 10 going for 50+. 
• Power, a member of the preseason Ray Guy Award Watch List, ranks seventh in Baylor history in punts and punting yards, ninth in punting average and sixth in punts of at least 50 yards. 
• BU also returns John Mayers, who has made 34 of 44 field goals over his four-year career, owning the top field-goal percentage (77.3) in Baylor history. Mayers has also made 119 of his 121 career PATs. Mayers was 10 of 15 in 2020, hitting all seven of his attempts inside 40 yards, and was 16 of 19 in 2019, connecting on a long of 51 and 14 of 17 from inside 40 yards. 
 
BAYLOR TIED FOR FOURTH IN NATION IN GRADUATES
• Baylor ranks tied for fourth in the nation with 22 players having already earned their undergraduate degrees. Only Nebraska (26), Liberty (23) and Rice (23) had more graduates in 2022 than the Bears, who ranked tied with six other schools for fourth. 
• The list of BU graduates includes Luke Anthony, Jacoby Clarke, Dillon Doyle, Jacob Gall, Connor Galvin, BJ Hanspard, Gavin Holmes, Bryson Jackson, Mose Jeffery, Khalil Keith, Cole Maxwell, John Mayers, Grant Miller, Mark Milton, Christian Morgan, Chidi Ogbonnaya, Jaxon Player, Issac Power, Corbin Robertson, Ben Sims, Brayden Utley and Craig Williams. 
 
HONORING MR. DAVE
• Dave Campbell, a pioneer in sports journalism whose passion for coverage of football at all levels reverberates throughout Texas, passed away last December at the age of 96 at his home in Waco. Mr. Dave was an icon in the journalism industry and throughout the state and was a fixture in the community of Waco. Campbell founded and served as editor-in-chief of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, was a former president of the Football Writers Association of America, was an inductee into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and served as the longtime sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald. A native of Waco and a product of La Vega High School, Campbell enrolled at Baylor before being drafted into service in World War II.
• After he returned to Texas, Campbell earned his degree from Baylor, married his college sweetheart Reba, and served as sports editor at the Tribune-Herald for 40 years. He founded his iconic magazine in 1960 and served as the editor-in-chief for the remainder of his life. After retiring from the Tribune-Herald in 1993, Campbell took a position with the Baylor Bear Foundation and was editor of Dave Campbell's Baylor Bear Insider for the next 15 years. He was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. 
• Baylor is proud to honor Campbell throughout the 2022 season, along with his legendary impact on our community, by reserving his seat in the McLane Stadium Press Box.
 
FOOTBALL HISTORY
• The Bears are entering their 121st season of football in 2022. The Bears have fielded a varsity team every year since 1899, save the 1906, 1943 and 1944 seasons. 
• BU has won nine conference titles, including in 2021, with three Big 12 Championships and six Southwest Conference Championships.
• Baylor's first season came in 1899-1900, a 5-1 record under Coach R.H. Hamilton that included two wins over Toby's Business. 
 
ONE STANDARD. ONE ACCORD. 
• Baylor unveiled a mission statement under Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades in the fall of 2018, "One Standard. One Accord", which is centered on the distinct purpose of Preparing Champions for Life through academic achievement, athletic success, spiritual growth and character formation. 
 
ABOUT BAYLOR  
• Baylor is situated on a 1,000-acre campus located on the Brazos River in Waco, Texas, and was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers. It is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Baylor is a R1 Institution according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education 
• BU sponsors 19 varsity sports as members of the Big 12 Conference and boasts the 2021 Men's Basketball National Champions, the 2005, 2012 and 2019 Women's Basketball National Champions and the 2004 Men's Tennis National Champions, in addition to 88 Big 12 Conference Championships in the league's 25-year history.