By Bennett Parker | Sports Writer
Homecoming weekend is placed at a pivotal point in the football season. The air gets a certain crisp as the end of the regular season nears.
In front of a packed crowd expecting a win, the Bears are pressured to put on a clinic against a Big 12 opponent.
Baylor has won 13 of its last 15 homecoming games. In seasons where the Bears won on the occasion, they went 113-57 (.665 winning percentage); in seasons where they lost the game, they went 4-20 (.167 winning percentage).
In the ups and downs of a season, a homecoming game is usually a good measuring stick of how Baylor can perform. The Bears host a conference opponent, trying to build or keep momentum toward the final stretch of the season.
The home game in front of the alumni has its greatest effect on the rest of the season. Baylor has gone 9-4 in games directly following a homecoming victory and just 0-2 following the pair of homecoming losses.
The Bears hold an unremarkable 42-31 record following those 13 wins while boasting a winning record in seven of those seasons, but it proved to be a catalyst for multiple campaigns. Baylor went 5-0 in 2011 while finishing with only one loss in the last stretch in 2012, 2014, 2021 and 2024.
In the 13 years with a homecoming win, the Bears have qualified for a bowl game 12 times with the only time missing was last year.
Baylor’s homecoming is one of the most central parts of the university and its tradition. Running 117 years, it is the oldest collegiate homecoming tradition in the nation.
“Homecoming is a special occasion for any university,” interim head coach Joe Klanderman said. “I think especially going to be special this year for us. A lot of guys that are calling this home now for the first time, and some guys that have been in the program for a long time, and the fan base needs something to rally around. So, we’re going to go out there on Saturday morning and show you the full capacity of the Baylor Bears.“
The Bears host Iowa State on Saturday, a familiar face for the homecoming showcase. This will be Baylor’s sixth homecoming meeting with the Cyclones, currently holding a 3-2 record. The most recent edition was a 30-18 loss on homecoming in 2023.
“I’m not belittling the fact that it’s homecoming. I want these guys to take a lot of pride in that,” Klanderman said. “It’s this team this week, this game, against that opponent. And that’s what we’re dialed in on. And so we’re going to do everything we can to put those guys in positions to be successful. We’re going to do the same thing we did last week, is try to get those guys to play with energy and passion.”
The stats show homecoming is one of the most paramount games of the season. The Bears have the opportunity to prove their newfound energy to their fanbase by rolling out another momentous performance in front of the home crowd.
Baylor takes on Iowa State at 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
