By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
Baylor fans got their first look at “Nate the Great” in his first start under center for football, while volleyball traveled to the home of the best team in the country and soccer ended its nonconference schedule on a high note. Let’s get into it.
Football is back on the Brazos
Baylor football returned home to McLane Stadium for its home opener against Prairie View A&M Saturday night. The energy was shot back into the home of the Bears as the “Fan First Era” kicked off. New hype videos, pyrotechnics and the return of the Bear Bell reinvigorated the fanbase.
Junior quarterback Nate Bennett made his first start for Baylor with junior quarterback DJ Lagway being sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Bennett threw for 301 yards and three total touchdowns while also getting picked off twice. He helped lead Baylor to four straight touchdowns in the first half to eventually beat the Panthers 44-3.
The defense also showed out in week two. The unit sacked PVAMU quarterback Tevin Carter four times while forcing its first fumble of the season. The Bears did lose fifth-year defensive lineman Devonte Tezino for the rest of the season as he was carted off the field on the first drive.
Baylor faces off against Louisiana Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium.
Volleyball takes two of three in the heartland
No. 20 Baylor volleyball looked to keep up its strong start to the 2026 season despite facing its biggest challenge yet. The Bears headed to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a three-match gauntlet.
They first faced off against then-undefeated Georgia Tech. Baylor swept the Yellow Jackets by recording a season-high .308 hitting percentage. The Bears also won in three sets against New Mexico to close out the weekend.
Baylor’s biggest test came at the hands of No. 1 Nebraska. While the Cornhuskers swept the Bears, the visitors kept it close with the best team in the nation across all three sets. Nebraska allowed an opponent to reach 20 points in a set only once before the weekend, and Baylor did it three times, dropping the match 25-20, 25-22, 26-24.
The Bears take on Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ferrell Center.
Jimison leads Baylor soccer through nonconference schedule
No. 17 Baylor soccer continued to show the country that it is picking up right where it left off in 2025.
Senior midfielder Aryanna Jimison shined for the Bears in their last two matches. She connected on a free kick to score the only goal of Baylor’s 1-0 victory over Marquette on Thursday. She also headed in the game-winner in the Bears’ 2-1 win against Oral Roberts Sunday night.
Jimison is tied for the second-most goals on the team with three, trailing only freshman forward Grace White with four.
The pair of wins is vaulting the Bears into their conference schedule with an impressive 7-1 record and a five-match win streak.
The Bears face a challenge in their conference opener, facing No. 8 West Virginia at 6 p.m. Friday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Baylor saw wins all around the board over the weekend. And just like what you see on your weather app, the Bears are getting hot.
Have a good week, y’all.
— Jeffrey Cohen
