2023 Baylor Bears football
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record3–9 (2–7 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJeff Grimes (3rd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorMatt Powledge (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumMcLane Stadium
Uniform
2023 Big 12 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Texas y$^  8 1   12 2  
No. 16 Oklahoma State y  7 2   10 4  
No. 15 Oklahoma  7 2   10 3  
Iowa State  6 3   7 6  
No. 18 Kansas State  6 3   9 4  
West Virginia  6 3   9 4  
Texas Tech  5 4   7 6  
No. 23 Kansas  5 4   9 4  
UCF  3 6   6 7  
TCU  3 6   5 7  
Houston  2 7   4 8  
BYU  2 7   5 7  
Baylor  2 7   3 9  
Cincinnati  1 8   3 9  
Championship: Texas 49, Oklahoma State 21
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the Big 12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears were led by Dave Aranda in his fourth season as their head coach.

Baylor was picked sixth out of 14 teams in the preseason media poll of the conference. It was not ranked in the national top 25 polls of media or coaches, though the team did receive some votes.

The Bears played eight of their 12 regular season games at home, the largest number in school history[1] and the most home games in the NCAA FBS this year, along with Penn State, Arizona State and Mississippi State.[2]

This was the first season with Big 12 membership at 14 teams, after the realignment upheaval of the preceding years, which saw the league add four teams (BYU, UCF, Houston and Cincinnati). Consequently, the football schedule was no longer a "round robin" in which every team plays every other team, as was the practice when the league had 10 teams. The league continued to play nine intra-conference games; therefore, the Bears in 2023 did not play BYU, Kansas, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma, which (along with Texas) was in its final year with the league before moving to the SEC. The Bears played three of the four newcomers.

Five Baylor players were named to national preseason watch lists for the following awards:

The Bears played their home games at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, its 10th year of hosting play.

The Bears failed to qualify for a bowl game and suffered their first losing season since 2020 following their loss to Kansas State.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.Texas State*ESPN+L 31–4244,945
September 911:00 a.m.No. 12 Utah*
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
ESPNL 13–2043,732
September 1611:00 a.m.LIU*
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
ESPN+W 30–743,732
September 236:30 p.m. No. 3 Texas
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
ABCL 6–3849,165
September 302:30 p.m.at UCFFS1W 36–3544,005
October 77:00 p.m.Texas Tech
ESPN2L 14–3944,620
October 2111:00 a.m.at CincinnatiESPN+W 32–2938,193
October 282:30 p.m.Iowa Statedagger
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
ESPN+L 18–3043,528
November 42:30 p.m.Houston
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
ESPN+L 24–25 OT41,180
November 112:00 p.m.at No. 25 Kansas StateESPN+L 25–5951,790
November 182:30 p.m.at TCUESPN+L 17–4242,621
November 256:00 p.m.West Virginia
  • McLane Stadium
  • Waco, TX
FS1L 31–3436,200

[3]

Game summaries

vs. Texas State

Texas State Bobcats (0–0) vs. Baylor Bears (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Texas State 14 14 7742
Baylor 6 7 11731

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 99 °F (37 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,945
  • Referee: David Alvarez
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Peter Sousa and LaDarrin McLane
  • Pregame line: Baylor –26.5
Statistics Texas State Baylor
First downs2022
Plays–yards69–44176524
Rushes–yards3914332–108
Passing yards298416
Passing: comp–att–int22–30–02744–1
Time of possession26:1233:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas State PassingTJ Finley22–30, 298 yards, 3 TD
RushingIsmail Mahdi6 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJoey Hobert6 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen21–31, 303 yards, 2 TD
RushingDominic Richardson16 carries, 84 yards
ReceivingDrake Dabney6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD

vs. Utah

No. 12 Utah Utes (1–0) vs. Baylor Bears (0–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 12 Utah 0 3 31420
Baylor 0 10 3013

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2022
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,732
  • Referee: Christopher Wiggins
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
  • Pregame line: Baylor +7.0
Statistics Utah Baylor
First downs2014
Plays–yards7337757–339
Rushes–yards4722429–121
Passing yards153218
Passing: comp–att–int12–26–11228–2
Time of possession36:1723:43
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Utah PassingNate Johnson6–7, 82 yards
RushingJa'Quinden Jackson19 carries, 13 yards
ReceivingMikey Matthews4 receptions, 48 yards
Baylor PassingSawyer Robertson12–28, 218 yards, 1 INT
RushingDominic Richardson14 carries, 81 yards
ReceivingKetron Jackson, Jr.4 receptions, 72 yards

vs. LIU

LIU Sharks (0–2) vs. Baylor Bears (0–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
LIU 0 7 007
Baylor 7 9 7730

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: rain • Temperature: 76°F
  • Game attendance: 43,732
  • Referee: Nate Black
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Pregame line: Baylor –44.0
Statistics LIU Baylor
First downs1026
Plays–yards43–14375391
Rushes–yards29–14348270
Passing yards40121
Passing: comp–att–int6–14–113270
Time of possession23:3636:24
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LIU PassingChris Howell4–10, 41 yards, 1 INT
RushingJaden Dawkins1 carry, 42 yards
ReceivingAviyon Smith Mack1 reception, 35 yards
Baylor PassingSawyer Robertson10–22, 113 yards, 1 TD
RushingDawson Pendergrass21 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKetron Jackson, Jr.2 receptions, 29 yards

vs. Texas

No. 3 Texas Longhorns (3–0) vs. Baylor Bears (1–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Texas 7 21 10038
Baylor 3 3 006

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 97°F
  • Game attendance: 49,165
  • Referee: Derek Anderson
  • TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Tom Luginbill
  • Pregame line: Baylor +14.5
Statistics Texas Baylor
First downs2419
Plays–yards59–50384–365
Rushes–yards347531–60
Passing yards328305
Passing: comp–att–int19–25–029-53-1
Time of possession26:3033:30
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas PassingQuinn Ewers18-23, 293 yards, 1 TD
RushingJonathon Brooks18 carries, 106 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJa'Tavion Sanders5 receptions, 110 yards
Baylor PassingSawyer Robertson20-35, 203 yards, 1 INT
RushingRJ Martinez3 carries, 22 yards
ReceivingMonaray Baldwin3 receptions, 81 yards

at UCF

Baylor Bears (1–3) vs. UCF Knights (3–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Baylor 7 0 32636
UCF 21 7 7035

at FBC Mortgage StadiumOrlando, FL

  • Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: cloudy • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,005
  • Referee: Henry Johns
  • TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins and Devin Gardner
  • Pregame line: Baylor +8.0 • Gamecast
Statistics Baylor UCF
First downs2218
Plays–yards77–44661–469
Rushes–yards43–15335–235
Passing yards293234
Passing: comp–att–int2134013-26-1
Time of possession35:3124:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen21-34, 293 yards, 1 TD
RushingRichard Reese16 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingMonaray Baldwin7 receptions, 150 yards, 1 TD
UCF PassingTimmy McClain13-25, 234 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingJohnny Richardson6 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJavon Baker3 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD

vs. Texas Tech

Texas Tech Red Raiders (2–3) vs. Baylor Bears (2–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Texas Tech 7 10 71539
Baylor 0 3 01114

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: clear • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,620
  • Referee: Michael VanderVelde
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore, and Lauren Sisler
  • Pregame line: Baylor +2.5
Statistics Texas Tech Baylor
First downs1917
Plays–yards6836668–341
Rushes–yards4218630–17
Passing yards180324
Passing: comp–att–int19–26–122380
Time of possession30:0429:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas Tech PassingBehren Morton19–26, 180 yards, 1 INT
RushingTahj Brooks31 carries, 170 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMyles Price10 receptions, 90 yards
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen22–38, 324 yards, 1 TD
RushingDominic Richardson9 carries, 26 yards
ReceivingMonaray Baldwin5 receptions, 126 yards

at Cincinnati

Baylor Bears (2–4) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (2–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
Baylor 3 17 9332
UCF 0 14 01529

at Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH

  • Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 38,193
  • Referee: Kevin Mar
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Pregame line: Baylor +2.5
Statistics Baylor Cincinnati
First downs2221
Plays–yards70–39674450
Rushes–yards28–8043288
Passing yards316162
Passing: comp–att–int2542019-31-0
Time of possession31:1328:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen25-42, 316 yards, 1 TD
RushingDominic Richardson8 carries, 37 yards
ReceivingKetron Jackson, Jr.5 receptions, 130 yards
Cincinnati PassingEmory Jones19-30, 162 yards, 2 TD
RushingCorey Kiner15 carries, 129 yards
ReceivingXzavier Henderson8 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TD

vs. Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones (4–3) vs. Baylor Bears (3–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
Iowa State 7 10 10330
Baylor 0 6 6618

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: rain • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: SW 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 43,528
  • Referee: David Alvarez
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely, Barrett Brooks
  • Pregame line: Baylor +3.0
Statistics Iowa State Baylor
First downs1917
Plays–yards6640066–306
Rushes–yards3516225–67
Passing yards238239
Passing: comp–att–int19–31–124411
Time of possession33:3326:27
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Iowa State PassingRocco Becht19–31, 238 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingEli Sanders14 carries, 90 yards
ReceivingJaylin Noel8 receptions, 76 yards
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen24–41, 239 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingDawson Pendergrass8 carries, 37 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingMonaray Baldwin6 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD

vs. Houston

Houston Cougars (3–5) vs. Baylor Bears (3–5)
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Houston 0 7 37825
Baylor 0 0 710724

at McLane StadiumWaco, TX

  • Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 73°F
  • Game attendance: 41,180
  • Referee: Derek Anderson
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Pregame line: Baylor –2.5
Statistics Houston Baylor
First downs2122
Plays–yards59–36672413
Rushes–yards32–13035150
Passing yards236263
Passing: comp–att–int21–27–229371
Time of possession26:3933:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Houston PassingDonovan Smith21–27, 236 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingDonovan Smith20 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingSamuel Brown9 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
Baylor PassingBlake Shapen29–37, 263 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingDominic Richardson11 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingDrake Dabney4 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

Personnel

Roster

2022 Baylor Bears Football

Quarterback

  • 12 Blake ShapenRedshirt junior (6'0, 206)
  • 13 Sawyer RobertsonRedshirt sophomore (6'4, 220)
  • 15 RJ Martinez - junior (5'11, 213)
  • 17 Cade Tessier – freshman (6'3, 217)
  • 18 Brayson McHenry – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 198)

Running back

  • 21 Dominic Richardson – junior (6'1, 204)
  • 23 Jordan Jenkins – Redshirt sophomore (6'1, 217)
  • 25 Jacoby Clarke – Redshirt senior (5'10, 230)
  • 29 Richard Reesesophomore (5'9, 179)
  • 30 Bryson Washington - freshman (6'0, 204)
  • 35 Dawson Pendergrass - freshman (6'2, 212)

Wide receiver

  • 11 Ketron Jackson Jr – junior (6'3, 208)
  • 14 Armani Winfield – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 200)
  • 16 Hal Presley – junior (6'2, 196)
  • 17 Jonah Burton - Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 197)
  • 18 Jordan Nabors – sophomore (5'11, 189)
  • 19 Javon Gipson – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 213)
  • 24 Landry Kinne – Redshirt junior (6'0, 187)
  • 34 Josh Cameron – Redshirt sophomore (6'1, 215)
  • 80 Monaray Baldwin – junior (5'9, 168)
  • 81 Jonathan Davidson – Redshirt junior (6'1, 208)
  • 84 Cameron Bonner – Redshirt sophomore (5'11, 186)
  • 88 Micah Gifford - freshman (6'3, 203)

Tight end

  • 43 Gavin Yates - junior (6'3, 230)
  • 44 Mark Patton - Redshirt junior (6'4, 253)
  • 45 Hawkins Polley - freshman (6'3, 250)
  • 49 Jonathan Steinhauer - freshman (6'6, 242)
  • 82 Cody Mladenka - Redshirt freshman (6'4, 242)
  • 85 Matthew Klopfenstein - freshman (6'4, 246)
  • 86 Jake Roberts - junior (6'5, 248)
  • 87 Kelsey Johnson - sophomore (6'2, 248)
  • 89 Drake Dabney - senior (6'5, 248)

Placekicker

  • 96 Bryce Boland – Redshirt junior (5'11, 172)
  • 97 Hayden Arnold - freshman (5'8, 180)
  • 98 Isaiah Hankins – Redshirt sophomore (6'0, 192)
  • 99 Jack Stone – sophomore (5'11, 197)

Punter

  • 94 Palmer Williams – freshman (6'2, 183)
 

Offensive line

  • 50 Connor Heffernan – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 294)
  • 53 Campbell Barrington - junior (6'6, 299)
  • 54 Timothy Dawn – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 306)
  • 56 Clark Barrington - 5th year senior (6'5, 306)
  • 57 Wes Tucker – freshman (6'5, 294)
  • 58 Gavin Byers – senior (6'5, 318)
  • 61 Cayden Tone - freshman (6'4, 272)
  • 62 Ryan Lengyel – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 305)
  • 65 Sean Thompkins – freshman (6'5, 290)
  • 70 Bryce Simpson – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 286)
  • 71 MJ Ruhman – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 291)
  • 72 Coleton Price – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 305)
  • 73 George Maile – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 305)
  • 74 Kaden Sieracki – Redshirt freshman (6'8, 318)
  • 75 Elijah Ellis – Redshirt senior (6'6, 307)
  • 76 Isaiah Robinson – freshman (6'6, 299)
  • 77 Tate Williams – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 301)
  • 79 Alvin Ebosele – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 304)

Defensive line

  • 9 TJ Franklin – 5th year senior (6'5, 269)
  • 35 Jackie Marshall - Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 265)
  • 48 Treven Ma'ae - Redshirt junior (6'5, 296)
  • 50 Kaian Roberts-Day - Redshirt freshman (6'3, 274)
  • 54 David Marshall Jr – sophomore (6'0, 278)
  • 57 Prince Ugoh – Redshirt sophomore (6'1, 227)
  • 59 Devonte Tezino – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 286)
  • 90 Brendan Bett – freshman (6'5, 290)
  • 91 Trey Wilson - freshman (6'3, 259)
  • 92 Trent Thomas - freshman (6'3, 237)
  • 93 DK Kalu - freshman (6'4, 270)
  • 94 BoChao Jin – Redshirt junior (6'0, 277)
  • 95 Gabe Hallsenior (6'6, 292)
  • 96 Justin Sambu – 5th year senior (6'4, 284)
  • 97 Cooper Lanz – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 273)
  • 98 Jerrell Boykins Jr – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 330)
  • 99 Tre Emory – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 308)

Long snapper

  • 26 Garrison Grimes – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 216)
  • 93 Dylan Schaub – freshman (6'5, 226)
 

Linebacker

  • 2 Matt Jones – Redshirt senior (6'3, 251)
  • 32 Carmello Jones – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 225)
  • 36 Tyrone M. Brown – Redshirt sophomore (5'11, 233)
  • 40 Mike Smith Jr - 5th year senior (6'1, 231)
  • 41 Brooks Miller – Redshirt junior (6'1, 229)
  • 42 Jeremy Evans – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 216)
  • 44 Josh White – Redshirt junior (6'0, 215)
  • 49 Trey Laurence – freshman (6'0, 209)
  • 56 Braden Strauss – Redshirt junior (5'11, 215)
  • 58 Jaden Maronen – Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 220)

Outside linebacker

  • 45 Byron Vaughns – 5th year senior (6'4, 242)
  • 46 Tony Anyanwu – junior (6'2, 243)
  • 51 Kyler Jordan – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 235)
  • 52 Corey Kelly - freshman (6'3, 218)
  • 55 Garmon Randolph – Redshirt senior (6'7, 250)

Cornerback

  • 13 Isaiah Dunson – sophomore (6'1, 186)
  • 15 Carl Williams IV - freshman (6'1, 180)
  • 19 Caden Jenkins - freshman (6'1, 173)
  • 21 Chateau Reed – Redshirt junior (6'2, 190)
  • 22 Reggie Bush – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 191)
  • 25 LeVar Thornton Jr - freshman (6'3, 175)
  • 27 Tevin Williams III – Redshirt sophomore (6'0, 188)
  • 34 MJ Artmore Jr - freshman (6'0, 191)
  • 37 Tay'Shawn Wilson - freshman (5'9, 178)

Safety

  • 7 Bryson Jackson – 7th year senior (6'2, 209)
  • 12 Alfonzo Allen – sophomore (5'11, 194)
  • 20 Devin Lemear – Redshirt sophomore (5'11, 187)
  • 24 Corey Gordon Jr. – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 191)
  • 28 Devin Bobby – sophomore (5'10, 186)
  • 29 Romario Noel – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 210)
  • 30 Michael Allen – Redshirt freshman (5'7, 183)
  • 33 DJ Coleman – freshman (6'0, 194)
  • 38 Jacob Redding - freshman (6'0, 187)
  • 39 Michael Mastrodicasa – Redshirt sophomore (6'0, 196)
  • 47 Caleb Parker – Redshirt junior (5'11, 205)

References

  1. "Football Opens 2023 Season with Texas State". BaylorBears.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. Mike Huguenin (March 7, 2023). "Breaking down the 2023 college football schedule, league-by-league". Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. "2023 Baylor Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 25, 2022.


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