Baylor Defeats SMU 48-45 In 2 OT Thriller
You know that feeling when you watch a heavyweight boxing match, and both fighters are just trading haymakers, neither one willing to go down? That’s what it felt like watching the Baylor Bears and the SMU Mustangs in Dallas. It was a slugfest, a nail-biter, and a game that had me questioning my own sanity more than once. When the dust finally settled, Baylor somehow, some way, escaped with a 48-45 victory that was anything but pretty.
This wasn’t just another game. SMU was looking to end a 12-game losing streak to Baylor that stretched back to when your dad was still rocking a mullet. They were ranked, they were at home, and they smelled blood in the water after Baylor’s season-opening stumble against Auburn.
But as Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend!” This game was a roller coaster of emotions, a testament to offensive firepower, and a flashing, neon-red warning sign for one team’s defense. Let’s break down the sheer madness of this Texas showdown.
Sawyer Robertson: Is This Guy Even Human?
Let’s just get this out of the way: Sawyer Robertson is a certified monster. A gunslinger. A dude who eats pressure for breakfast and asks for seconds. What he did against SMU was legendary stuff. The Bears were down by 14 points with less than six minutes on the clock. The stadium was rocking, SMU was celebrating, and it looked like the game was over. Then, Robertson put on his cape.
He orchestrated two jaw-dropping touchdown drives in the final minutes to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was the kind of clutch performance that makes you stand up and shout at your TV. He finished the game with a ridiculous 440 yards and four touchdowns, without a single turnover. Through two games, he’s thrown for 858 yards and seven touchdowns. Right now, he’s not just in the conversation for the best quarterback in Texas; he’s arguably the hottest QB in the entire country.
Baylor’s Defense: A Five-Alarm Fire
Okay, now for the not-so-fun part. If Robertson were a superhero, the Baylor defense was the group of innocent bystanders running for their lives. To say they had a bad day would be the understatement of the century. They were, in a word, atrocious.
SMU’s Quarterback, Kevin Jennings, looked like Joe Montana in the first half, going a perfect 10-for-10 with 236 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those scores were 75-yard bombs on the first play of their respective drives. It was like the Baylor secondary was playing with their shoelaces tied together.
Even when they had a chance to seal the win in overtime, they gave up a one-play touchdown—the third time that happened all game. It took an injury to SMU’s quarterback for Baylor’s defense to finally force a missed field goal. You can’t win championships like that. It’s simply not sustainable.
The Heat Is On for Dave Aranda
Look, a win is a win, and Dave Aranda gets credit for his team’s heart in that comeback. But let’s be real: his seat has to be getting uncomfortably warm. Aranda was brought to Baylor because of his reputation as a defensive mastermind at LSU. Where has that guy been?
Outside of a stellar 2021 season, Baylor’s defense under Aranda has been consistently porous. They gave up nearly 29 points per game last year, and they’ve already surrendered 38 and 45 points in their first two games this season. The offense, led by Robertson, is a national treasure. But it feels like they have to score 50 points just to have a chance to win. That’s a recipe for disaster. This victory papers over some serious cracks, but those cracks are getting wider. If this trend continues, all the offensive heroics in the world won’t be enough to save their season, or potentially, Aranda’s job.
This game was an instant classic, a heart-stopping thriller that reminded us why we love college football. For Baylor, it was a character-building win that showcased the brilliance of their quarterback. But it was also a blaring alarm bell. If they don’t fix that defense, and fast, this thrilling victory will just be a footnote in a season of “what ifs.”
