Five Keys to Saturday's Game
11/29/2025 7:30:00 AM | Football
Backs against the wall, Bears need win to become bowl-eligible
BAYLOR (5-6, 3-5) vs. HOUSTON (8-3, 5-3)
11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, at McLane Stadium (TNT)
11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, at McLane Stadium (TNT)
- ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Little things turn into big things, and one mistake turns into a touchdown or a big takeaway for the other team. On sophomore running back Bryson Washington's second-effort, fourth-quarter fumble, which opened the door for Arizona's closing 20-0 run, Baylor coach Dave Aranda said: "We're past the first contact of stuff, we're now into the second or third contact, where a guy like B-Wash was going to fight everybody for that yard or two. But he has to fight everybody for that extra yard or two with the right technique from start to finish. . . . I think it's more just more attention to details when it matters. That's what it's going to take."
- BE MOTIVATED: The pot of gold at the end of that rainbow for the Bears is a win that makes you bowl-eligible for the 13th time in the last 16 seasons and another month of practices to get an early start on next season. ""I think it does mean a little bit more, knowing the stakes of the game and wanting to spend a whole month with this group of guys when we win this game," said senior receiver Josh Cameron. "That's really the motivation spread throughout the entire room, whether you're a freshman or even a senior. All the guys are on board and ready to get the (win) against Houston."
- STOP THE QB RUN: Last week's 17-14 loss to TCU was the outlier, when Texas A&M transfer QB Connor Weigman rushed for a season-high 114 yards on 15 carries. But in two of the Cougars' three losses, he rushed for a net of minus-20 yards on 18 attempts versus Texas Tech and West Virginia. "I think he has the ability to make plays when there's stuff not apparent," Aranda said. "And more and more as the season progressed, there are more and more designed quarterback runs where he's got a lot of yards and they've been able to run the ball and win games with him as a leading rusher."
- START FAST AND SUSTAIN: The Bears got that "start fast" down, scoring touchdowns on each of their first two drives and taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter. But on the final 10 possessions in the 41-7 loss to Arizona, Baylor had three punts, two field goal attempts and three turnovers and turned it over twice on downs. "You look at the third quarter, there were three drives where the defense is putting the offense back on the field, and we couldn't do anything with it," Aranda said. "So, one side's up, the other side's down. Other side gets up, the flip goes down. We have to be able to play consistently that way, where we create some momentum and back each other up. We've done that in spurts. We've done that for, I guess, maybe one game. We're going to need to do it in this one."
- DO IT FOR JOSH: One of 20 seniors playing their final game at McLane Stadium, Cameron has had an unbelievable career at Baylor, going from walk-on to All-American. Already in the program's career top 10 with 167 receptions, he needs 61 yards and one TD grab to crack the top 10 in those categories. "I remember when I was a freshman, just looking up to guys like Tyquan (Thornton) and RJ (Sneed) and wanting to be like them whenever I got my chance," he said. "Just blessed to be in this position and just capitalize whenever I can and contribute wherever I can. That's been my main focus, really, just playing and having fun out there. And whenever I can score the ball, let's make it happen."
Players Mentioned
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