2018 Baylor Bears football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2018
| team = Baylor Bears
| sport = football
| image = Baylor Athletics logo.svg
| image_size = 150
| conference = Big 12 Conference
| short_conf = Big 12
| APRank =
| CoachRank =
| CFPRank =
| record = 7–6
| conf_record = 4–5
| head_coach =Matt Rhule
| hc_year = 2nd
| cooff_coach1 = Glenn Thomas
| cooc1_year = 2nd
| cooff_coach2 = Jeff Nixon
| cooc2_year = 2nd
| off_scheme = Spread
| def_coach = Phil Snow
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme = 3–3 stack{{cite web |publisher=ESPN |last=Newton |first=David |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/35462/carolina-panthers-top-ranked-defense-reflects-old-man-strength-of-dc-phil-snow |title=Carolina Panthers' top-ranked defense reflects 'old-man' strength of Phil Snow |date=September 29, 2021 |access-date=December 5, 2023}}
| stadium = McLane Stadium
| bowl = Texas Bowl
| bowl_result = W 45–38 vs. Vanderbilt
| champion = Texas Bowl champion
}}
{{2018 Big 12 football standings}}
The 2018 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears played their home games at the McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. They competed as a member of the Big 12 Conference and were led by second-year head coach Matt Rhule. The team improved on its 1–11 record from last season, as they would finish 7–6, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for fifth place. They were invited to the Texas Bowl, where they defeated Vanderbilt.
Preseason
=Award watch lists=
Listed in the order that they were released
=Big 12 media poll=
The Big 12 media poll was released July 12, 2018, with the Bears predicted to finish in ninth place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211734508|title = Sooners Picked to Repeat in Big 12 Preseason Football Poll}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| align="center"
|align="center" Colspan="3" |Media poll | ||
| align="center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Baylor Bears|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}} | ||
| align="center"
| 1 | Oklahoma | 509 (46) |
| align="center"
| 2 | West Virginia | 432 (2) |
| align="center"
| 3 | TCU | 390 (1) |
| align="center"
| 4 | Texas | 370 (1) |
| align="center"
| 5 | Oklahoma State | 300 |
| align="center"
| 6 | Kansas State | 283 (2) |
| align="center"
| 7 | Iowa State | 250 |
| align="center"
| 8 | Texas Tech | 149 |
| align="center"
| 9 | Baylor | 125 |
| align="center"
| 10 | Kansas | 52 |
Schedule
Baylor announced its football schedule Oct. 26, 2017.{{cite web |date=October 26, 2017 |title=Baylor Unveils Football Schedule |url=http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/football/baylor-unveils-football-schedule/ |access-date=October 26, 2017 |website=Wacotrib.com}} The Bears played 12 games with six home games (two non-conference games and four Big 12 games), five away games (one non-conference game and four Big 12 games) and a neutral-site Big 12 game.
{{CFB schedule
| opprank = y
| rankyear = 2018
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FBS
| poll = AP
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 1
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank =
| opponent = Abilene Christian
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FSN
| score = 55–27
| attend = 45,330
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = UTSA
| site_stadium = Alamodome
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| tv = Facebook
| score = 37–20
| attend = 42,071
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank =
| opponent = Duke
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 27–40
| attend = 40,442
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = Kansas
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 26–7
| attend = 36,725
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Oklahoma
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Norman, OK
| tv = ABC
| score = 33–66
| attend = 86,642
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = Kansas State
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 37–34
| attend = 36,888
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Texas
| opprank = 9
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Austin, TX
| tv = ESPN
| score = 17–23
| attend = 93,882
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|October 25|Thursday}}
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = West Virginia
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| tv = FS1
| score = 14–58
| attend = 53,117
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank =
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 35–31
| attend = 43,492
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa State
| opprank = 23
| site_stadium = Jack Trice Stadium
| site_cityst = Ames, IA
| tv = FS1
| score = 14–28
| attend = 53,860
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = l
| rank =
| opponent = TCU
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = McLane Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 9–16
| attend = 45,140
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank =
| opponent = Texas Tech
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = AT&T Stadium
| site_cityst = Arlington, TX
| tv = FS1
| score = 35–24
| attend = 27,308
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|December 27|Thursday}}
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l =w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank =
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| gamename = Texas Bowl
| site_stadium = NRG Stadium
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN
| score = 45–38
| attend =51,104
}}}}
Game summaries
=Abilene Christian=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Wildcats
|R1=7
|R2=13
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Bears
|H1=17
|H2=21
|H3=10
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At UTSA=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=10
|R2=10
|R3=7
|R4=10
|Home=Roadrunners
|H1=3
|H2=10
|H3=0
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 UTSA Roadrunners football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Duke=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Blue Devils
|R1= 7
|R2= 16
|R3= 7
|R4= 10
|Home=Bears
|H1= 0
|H2= 0
|H3= 13
|H4= 14
}}
{{see also|2018 Duke Blue Devils football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Kansas=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Jayhawks
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Bears
|H1=7
|H2=16
|H3=3
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Kansas Jayhawks football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Oklahoma=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=6
|R2=3
|R3=14
|R4=10
|Home=No. 6 Sooners
|H1=14
|H2=14
|H3=21
|H4=17
}}
{{see also|2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Kansas State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Wildcats
|R1=7
|R2=7
|R3=0
|R4=20
|Home=Bears
|H1=3
|H2=9
|H3=8
|H4=17
}}
{{see also|2018 Kansas State Wildcats football team}}
{{Clear}}
Baylor held a slight edge in the pregame analysis. Coming into the game Baylor was considered better than they were at this same time last year and has won 3 games (Kansas, Texas-San Antonio, and Abilene Christian), the Bears have also lost 2 (Duke, Oklahoma). In Baylor's previous game against Oklahoma, they achieved 493 yards of offense in their loss—something expected to be a challenge for Kansas State on defense.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/grades-from-kansas-states-19-14-loss-to-texas-and-a-look-ahead-to-baylor/ar-BBNLH1a|publisher=MSN Sports|access-date=October 1, 2018|date=September 30, 2018|first=Kellis|last=Robinett|title=Grades from Kansas State's 19-14 loss to Texas and a look ahead to Baylor}}
The game started with Kansas State holding the lead at the end of the first and second quarters. Baylor pulled ahead in the third quarter but missed several field goals. Baylor's Charlie Brewer threw for 296 yards and Kansas State's Alex Barnes rushed for 250 yards{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=401013031|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 6, 2018|date=October 6, 2018|title=Kansas State vs. Baylor (box score)}} (he ran for 129 yards and four touchdowns in the 2016 matchup also at Baylor).
Kansas State had its share of mistakes: K-State missed a field goal and an extra point and were also ineffective on kickoff returns. Kansas State also gave up a fumble on the kickoff return after a controversial play review to start the third quarter and Baylor scored a touchdown two plays later.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article219612605.html#storylink=cpy|publisher=Wichita Eagle|access-date=October 6, 2018|date=October 6, 2018|first=Kellis|last=Robinett|title=Mistakes cost Kansas State Wildcats in 37-34 loss to Baylor Bears}} Wildcat turnovers and penalties led to three touchdowns for Baylor.{{cite web|url=http://www.cjonline.com/sports/20181006/kansas-state-football-loses-heartbreaker-37-34-to-baylor|publisher=Topeka Capital-Journal|access-date=October 6, 2018|date=October 6, 2018|title=Kansas State football loses heartbreaker to Baylor 37-34|first=Arne|last=Green}} They also had problems with a punt return they recovered and an extra point was blocked.
Baylor's Connor Martin had a rough day as the kicker, missing three field goals and an extra point, yet among all that he ended up kicking the game-winning field goal from 29 yards with 8 seconds left in the game. The final score was a Baylor victory, 37-34.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/baylor-beats-k-state-on-martin-s-fg-with-8-seconds-left-100618|work=Fox Sports|access-date=October 6, 2018|date=October 6, 2018|title=Baylor beats K-State on Martin's FG with 8 seconds left}}
=At Texas=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=7
|R2=3
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=No. 9 Longhorns
|H1=3
|H2=20
|H3=0
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Texas Longhorns football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At West Virginia=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=14
|R4=0
|Home=No. 13 Mountaineers
|H1=10
|H2=31
|H3=10
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Oklahoma State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Cowboys
|R1=7
|R2=3
|R3=14
|R4=7
|Home=Bears
|H1=0
|H2=14
|H3=7
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2018 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Iowa State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=7
|R4=7
|Home=No. 23 Cyclones
|H1=7
|H2=10
|H3=11
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Iowa State Cyclones football team}}
{{Clear}}
=TCU=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Horned Frogs
|R1=3
|R2=6
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Bears
|H1=6
|H2=0
|H3=3
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 TCU Horned Frogs football team|Baylor–TCU football rivalry}}
{{Clear}}
=vs Texas Tech=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=7
|R2=7
|R3=14
|R4=7
|Home=Red Raiders
|H1=10
|H2=7
|H3=0
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Baylor–Texas Tech football rivalry}}
{{Clear}}
=vs Vanderbilt–Texas Bowl=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bears
|R1=10
|R2=7
|R3=14
|R4=14
|Home=Commodores
|H1=14
|H2=7
|H3=7
|H4=10
}}
{{see also|2018 Vanderbilt Commodores football team|2018 Texas Bowl}}
{{Clear}}
Players drafted into the NFL
{{see also|2019 NFL draft}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Baylor Bears| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club}} | ||||
| 3 | 67 | Jalen Hurd | WR | San Francisco 49ers |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Baylor Bears football navbox}}
Category:Baylor Bears football seasons