5 takeaways from Baylor’s chaotic loss to BYU: Future Big 12 rivals play overtime thriller

No. 9 Baylor (1-1) was stunned 26-20 in double overtime by No. 21 BYU (2-0) Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. It was a blow-for-blow matchup that featured about everything you could imagine. From a plethora of missed kicks to overtime madness, this game lived up to the hype.

Here are five takeaways from Baylor’s loss:

Future of the Big 12 is bright

What a game, this was. As BYU fans rushed the field following their team’s win in double overtime, all that can resonate with Baylor fans is that the future of the conference is incredibly bright. With home wins in back-to-back years, the games to come between the Cougars and Bears are something to salivate over.

Keep an eye out for matchups between these two teams for years to come. A renewed Holy War will give fans everywhere tons of enjoyment, you can bank on that.

Shapen still needs growth

The story of Blake Shapen is impressive, no doubt, but this week was the first road test of his young collegiate career. Shapen was asked to walk into an ear-splitting Provo environment and deliver a win in order to preserve Baylor’s top-10 ranking. Not an easy ask.

The young slinger did not make any mistakes in terms of turnovers, but he surely got a wake-up-call from this matchup. There’s still a long road ahead, so it’s nothing to worry about. This performance could have gone a lot worse, but Shapen will bounce back in future conference road contests as a result of Saturday’s game.

Baylor defense still elite

BYU put up 28 first quarter points in the first quarter of its season opener against USF on the road. On Saturday, they notched only three through the opening period versus Baylor. After losing many stars on the defensive end from 2021, the Bears still proved they have an elite defense that can be relied on in tough spots.

Amid the altitude, environment and Baylor offense’s struggles, the green and gold defense stepped up in a massive way on Saturday. Time after time they came up with stops, giving their offense a multitude of opportunities to get its footing down.

Some of this can be credited to BYU star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney being out, but it was still impressive to see Baylor’s front seven stand so strong against a lethal Cougars offense. It was tough sledding for Christopher Brooks and Co. against such a stout defensive line.

Slugfest of a game

All week long, there was lots of chatter about how physical this game would be. Saturday lived up to every bit of that hype, as the two squads went at each other relentlessly out of the gates.

It was smashmouth football from the get-go, as both teams attempted to pound the rock. Both teams combined for 16 first half points, as the squads traded punts several times. Neither offense could get any traction, thanks in part to the clear battle of the trenches.

Any time a defender had a chance to make significant contact, they did it. Countless blows across the gridiron could be witnessed, and those in person couldn’t help but notice how physical of a match it had been.

Qualan Jones or Craig “Sqwirl” Williams RB1?

A storyline following Baylor’s 69-10 week one victory over Albany was the running back room. There were concerns regarding who would emerge among the bunch, as head coach Dave Aranda used a committee for most of the night.

On Saturday, Taye McWilliams was the starter again, but took an early shot and had to step off the field. Qualan Jones quickly showed promise following McWilliams’ exit, as he continuously hit the hole hard and found ways to make plays.

Craig “Sqwirl” Williams followed suit, providing speed and execution out of the backfield. The two backs were interchangeable for most of the night, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Bears continue to use both backs or lean on one to be their bell-cow back next weekend.

Twitter: @MichaelHaag_

+++

Related:Brett Yormark, Big 12 are looking West, but does Pac-12 have any realistic targets left? Related:Baylor prediction: Can the Bears knock off BYU for a second straight season?

Find more Baylor coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.