By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The Topper
On Thursday Reese’s announced an NIL deal with college football players who share the same last name. And indeed Baylor RB Richard Reese cashed in. (PS – I’m kinda jealous because that candy bar is my kryptonite).
Note: There will be no blitz next Friday (Oct. 14) since Baylor is playing Thursday at West Virginia.
Baylor visitor reaction
Baylor had a banner Saturday for hosting recruits for its game at McLane Stadium against Oklahoma State. Although the Bears lost, it didn’t detract from how those who attended felt about their experience. No recruits are close to committing at this time.
“The visit was great! The energy on campus was amazing. I really enjoyed the pregame in the recruiting lounge and getting to talk to coaches. They were excited to have everyone down for the game. The warm up energy before the game by the players was definitely something to watch. I have been watching Conner Galvin for a few years and seeing him in action was awesome! It was all business, but they were enjoying what they were doing. Wish the game had ended with Baylor on top!!
Chase Garnet, Keller Central, RB, 2025
“It was good I had a lot of fun I loved the energy there from the team fans and the coaches. I would most definitely visit there again. I’m about to play in a game right now so I might not respond for a little.”
“I had a great time in Waco it was a very eventful experience. I came up there in the summer and camped and got around the coach’s a little and this trip gave me a better look on everything in Waco.’’
Note: Baylor is recruiting him as a cornerback
Dane Jones, Pearland Shadow Creek, WR, 2025
"My experience at Baylor was good. I got to talk to the coaches again. They didn’t play the game they wanted to but it was just little mistakes they made that they could’ve won if they didn’t make those mistakes."
“It was a good experience being back in Waco to see the game and talk to the coaches.”
“I had good time at Baylor. Great hospitality and friendly staff”
“It was my third time at Baylor. I attended the spring game last spring and a camp this summer. I was looking forward to seeing the game day atmosphere and it didn’t disappoint. The fans was awesome. The Baylor players had great energy on the sideline. They was live the whole game.”
“Definitely a great experience.’’
Caleb Hackleman, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, OL, 2024
"It was great, loved the hospitality and the relationships I have with the Coaches."
Ryan Hughes, Katy, OL, 2024
“It was really good, pretty similar to my first one this year but the atmosphere was stronger because it was such a big game.”
Will Hammond, Hutto, QB, 2024
“It was awesome! I got to walk around campus before the game and then sit down and eat with all of the other recruits pregame. Got to talk with Coach Bell at the table as well. He is very genuine. There were lots of fans and the game environment was special. We sat front row on the 50 just behind the players benches and I enjoyed seeing the players on the sidelines interacting with each other and the coaching staff.”
“I enjoyed myself at the game Saturday. The coaches jumped out first because I was there the day after being injured (AC Joint) and they we more concerned about me. So it meant a lot to me and my mom. The atmosphere there was crazy I loved that.
“Was good. Great talks with coaches and they got to meet my family.’’
SicEmSports Big 12 Power Rankings
Each week, SicEmSports unveils its looks at the league who in its view deserves to be ranked where. Agree or disagree, here’s how they look.
1. Oklahoma State – Spencer Sanders earns his Baylor redemption
2. Kansas State – Adrian Martinez with a new lease on life
3. TCU – Beating OU is one thing, humiliating OU is another
4. Kansas — If you bet money GameDay was coming to Lawrence, KS.
5. Baylor – Much to look at over the bye week
6. Texas – Quinn Ewers returns
7. Texas Tech – Tough consecutive road trips; first KSU, now OSU
8. Oklahoma – Defense is bad coupled with QB chaos
9. Iowa State – Lost first two Big 12 games by 10 points
10. West Virginia – Neal Brown’s status returns to focus
Big 12 Weekend
A look at the Big 12 schedule for the upcoming weekend. All games are Saturday unless otherwise listed. Rankings are from the coaches and AP polls. All times are central. TV is listed. All 10 teams are in action. Baylor and West Virginia have byes.
No. 17 TCU (4-0, 1-0) at No. 19 Kansas (5-0, 1-0); 11:00 a.m., Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS (FS1)
Series: TCU leads, 25-9-4
Notable: Another sellout crowd for the Jayhawks. With a win, they become bowl eligible and would be the first Big 12 team to do that. TCU playing with a ton of confidence following its dominating 55-24 over Oklahoma. QB Max Duggan has been efficient.
Texas (3-2, 1-1) vs. Oklahoma (3-2, 0-2); 11:00 a.m., Cotton Bowl, Dallas (ABC)
Series: Texas leads, 62-50-5
Notable: Texas QB situation is now in the hands of Quinn Ewers. Longhorns are trying to break a four-game losing streak to the Sooners. It’s really up in the air who will start at QB for Oklahoma after Dillon Gabriel’s concussion last week.
Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) at No. 7 Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0); 2:30 p.m., Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK (FS1)
Series: Tied, 23-23-3
Notable: Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders leads the Big 12 in total offense per game (320.5), Red Raider QB Donovan Smith is second (313.6). Cowboys escaped in Lubbock in 2021, 23-20.
No. 20 Kansas State (4-1, 2-0) at Iowa State (3-2, 2-0); 6:30 p.m., Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Series: Iowa State leads, 52-49-4
Notable: Wildcats QB Adrian Martinez is the fourth-leading rusher in the Big 12 (469 yards) and has not thrown an interception so far. Meanwhile KSU’s defense among the nation’s best with 9 INTs. The Cyclones are in desperate need of a win to climb out of the basement. They have the best scoring defense in the league at 14.4 ppg.
Publisher
The Topper
On Thursday Reese’s announced an NIL deal with college football players who share the same last name. And indeed Baylor RB Richard Reese cashed in. (PS – I’m kinda jealous because that candy bar is my kryptonite).
Note: There will be no blitz next Friday (Oct. 14) since Baylor is playing Thursday at West Virginia.
Baylor visitor reaction
Baylor had a banner Saturday for hosting recruits for its game at McLane Stadium against Oklahoma State. Although the Bears lost, it didn’t detract from how those who attended felt about their experience. No recruits are close to committing at this time.
“The visit was great! The energy on campus was amazing. I really enjoyed the pregame in the recruiting lounge and getting to talk to coaches. They were excited to have everyone down for the game. The warm up energy before the game by the players was definitely something to watch. I have been watching Conner Galvin for a few years and seeing him in action was awesome! It was all business, but they were enjoying what they were doing. Wish the game had ended with Baylor on top!!
Chase Garnet, Keller Central, RB, 2025
“It was good I had a lot of fun I loved the energy there from the team fans and the coaches. I would most definitely visit there again. I’m about to play in a game right now so I might not respond for a little.”
“I had a great time in Waco it was a very eventful experience. I came up there in the summer and camped and got around the coach’s a little and this trip gave me a better look on everything in Waco.’’
Note: Baylor is recruiting him as a cornerback
Dane Jones, Pearland Shadow Creek, WR, 2025
"My experience at Baylor was good. I got to talk to the coaches again. They didn’t play the game they wanted to but it was just little mistakes they made that they could’ve won if they didn’t make those mistakes."
“It was a good experience being back in Waco to see the game and talk to the coaches.”
“I had good time at Baylor. Great hospitality and friendly staff”
“It was my third time at Baylor. I attended the spring game last spring and a camp this summer. I was looking forward to seeing the game day atmosphere and it didn’t disappoint. The fans was awesome. The Baylor players had great energy on the sideline. They was live the whole game.”
“Definitely a great experience.’’
Caleb Hackleman, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, OL, 2024
"It was great, loved the hospitality and the relationships I have with the Coaches."
Ryan Hughes, Katy, OL, 2024
“It was really good, pretty similar to my first one this year but the atmosphere was stronger because it was such a big game.”
Will Hammond, Hutto, QB, 2024
“It was awesome! I got to walk around campus before the game and then sit down and eat with all of the other recruits pregame. Got to talk with Coach Bell at the table as well. He is very genuine. There were lots of fans and the game environment was special. We sat front row on the 50 just behind the players benches and I enjoyed seeing the players on the sidelines interacting with each other and the coaching staff.”
“I enjoyed myself at the game Saturday. The coaches jumped out first because I was there the day after being injured (AC Joint) and they we more concerned about me. So it meant a lot to me and my mom. The atmosphere there was crazy I loved that.
“Was good. Great talks with coaches and they got to meet my family.’’
SicEmSports Big 12 Power Rankings
Each week, SicEmSports unveils its looks at the league who in its view deserves to be ranked where. Agree or disagree, here’s how they look.
1. Oklahoma State – Spencer Sanders earns his Baylor redemption
2. Kansas State – Adrian Martinez with a new lease on life
3. TCU – Beating OU is one thing, humiliating OU is another
4. Kansas — If you bet money GameDay was coming to Lawrence, KS.
5. Baylor – Much to look at over the bye week
6. Texas – Quinn Ewers returns
7. Texas Tech – Tough consecutive road trips; first KSU, now OSU
8. Oklahoma – Defense is bad coupled with QB chaos
9. Iowa State – Lost first two Big 12 games by 10 points
10. West Virginia – Neal Brown’s status returns to focus
Big 12 Weekend
A look at the Big 12 schedule for the upcoming weekend. All games are Saturday unless otherwise listed. Rankings are from the coaches and AP polls. All times are central. TV is listed. All 10 teams are in action. Baylor and West Virginia have byes.
No. 17 TCU (4-0, 1-0) at No. 19 Kansas (5-0, 1-0); 11:00 a.m., Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS (FS1)
Series: TCU leads, 25-9-4
Notable: Another sellout crowd for the Jayhawks. With a win, they become bowl eligible and would be the first Big 12 team to do that. TCU playing with a ton of confidence following its dominating 55-24 over Oklahoma. QB Max Duggan has been efficient.
Texas (3-2, 1-1) vs. Oklahoma (3-2, 0-2); 11:00 a.m., Cotton Bowl, Dallas (ABC)
Series: Texas leads, 62-50-5
Notable: Texas QB situation is now in the hands of Quinn Ewers. Longhorns are trying to break a four-game losing streak to the Sooners. It’s really up in the air who will start at QB for Oklahoma after Dillon Gabriel’s concussion last week.
Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) at No. 7 Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0); 2:30 p.m., Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK (FS1)
Series: Tied, 23-23-3
Notable: Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders leads the Big 12 in total offense per game (320.5), Red Raider QB Donovan Smith is second (313.6). Cowboys escaped in Lubbock in 2021, 23-20.
No. 20 Kansas State (4-1, 2-0) at Iowa State (3-2, 2-0); 6:30 p.m., Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Series: Iowa State leads, 52-49-4
Notable: Wildcats QB Adrian Martinez is the fourth-leading rusher in the Big 12 (469 yards) and has not thrown an interception so far. Meanwhile KSU’s defense among the nation’s best with 9 INTs. The Cyclones are in desperate need of a win to climb out of the basement. They have the best scoring defense in the league at 14.4 ppg.
