Five Keys to Saturday's Game

BAYLOR (5-5, 3-4) at ARIZONA (7-3, 4-3)
12 p.m. CT, Saturday, Nov. 22, at Casino Del Sol Stadium (TNT)

BE WHERE YOU SHOULD BE: Even if you have 10 of the 11 players on defense in the right place, you can give up big runs when that one guy isn't where he should be. That was the case when Utah went for 67, 64 and 74 yards on touchdown runs. "It's kind of like, if we get those looks in the week and we don't do it on Saturday, why are we wasting the time?" linebacker Kyler Jordan said. "That's definitely frustrating. And it's really frustrating, because we would have 10 guys doing their job. All it takes is one, and it's out the gate. It's just very, very frustrating."
CLEAR IT AND MOVE ON: The game film from that 55-28 loss to 13^th-ranked Utah had to be like watching a Halloween horror movie for the Baylor defense, which gave up 380 yards rushing. But you can't let "the past define the future," tight end Matthew Klopfenstein said. "Coach (Dave) Aranda has been talking about the importance of controlling what you can control. We know we have two games left, and we're going to go 2-0 and give ourselves the best shot of getting into a good bowl game. It really comes down to a brotherhood, playing a game that you love. We've got two weeks to go out and play our best ball and try to get to a bowl game."
APPLY PRESSURE: A three-year starter who set Arizona's career record last week with his 68^th touchdown pass, redshirt junior Noah Fifita has put together easily his best season, throwing for 2,494 yards and 24 touchdowns with only four interceptions. But the Wildcats have allowed 27 sacks. Can Baylor disrupt things with the kind of constant pressure that bursts pipes? "They're going to just sit back there and throw it," Aranda said. "That's going to be a challenge for us, just because we haven't really seen it most of the year. Their O-line has some massive, big dudes that play hard. I think if you put it all together, though, they just believe. They got a big win this past Saturday (30-24 over Cincinnati), so we've got to find a way to crack their belief."
WHO STEPS UP FOR ASHTYN?: Ejected for a fourth-quarter fight with Utah cornerback Elijah Davis, sixth-year senior receiver Ashtyn Hawkins has to sit out the first half versus the Wildcats. There are certainly options in a deep receiver room, but does sophomore Jadon Porter fill that role while the Bears wait to get Hawkins back? "We can move Jadon outside," Aranda said. "There's Kole (Wilson) that can move outside, too. I think Kole's at his best when we can get him space and stuff to operate. And then, even (tight end Michael Trigg) being out there is an opportunity as well, when he's worked outside, not inside all the time."
'IT'S PERSONAL': One of two Arizona natives on the Baylor team – ASU transfer offensive lineman Connor Cameron from Gilbert is the other – Klopfenstein said he has 25 from his family and another 10-12 from his wife's side coming to the game. "I really want to win this game, that's for sure," said Klopfenstein, a former four-star recruit from Horizon High School in Scottsdale, about a two-hour drive from Tucson, "because I guess half my aunts and uncles went to Arizona and Arizona State. My dad went to ASU, so I grew up, big rivalry and stuff. Let's just say, in my family, it's personal."

Five Keys to Saturday's Game

Players Mentioned

Connor Cameron

Ashtyn Hawkins

Kyler Jordan

Matthew Klopfenstein

Jadon Porter

Michael Trigg

Footer

Five Keys to Saturday's Game

Related News

Players Mentioned

Connor Cameron

Ashtyn Hawkins

Kyler Jordan

Matthew Klopfenstein

Jadon Porter

Michael Trigg

Related Videos

Promotional Background Photo

Footer