By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 10 starts to wind down the home schedule as the Bears play host to Kansas State.
These have always been games with some wild finishes. Baylor won on a field goal at the gun at home in 2020 and then had to find a way to win in Manhattan, KS last year with then-backup Brett Shapen after Gerry Bohanon went down with a right hamstring injury.
Shapen led Baylor to a 20-10 victory.
Kansas State, which can sometimes play spoiler in the conference race, is predicted 5th in the Big 12 preseason media poll.
Opponent: Kansas State
Head Coach: Chris Klieman (20-16, 5th season; 92-29 11th season overall)
2021 Record: 8-5, 4-5 (d. LSU, 42-20 in Texas Bowl)
Conference Affiliation: Big 12
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 10-9 (Bears have won the last 4 meetings)
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
Key Returners: RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Phillip Brooks, OL Cooper Beebe, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, NG Eli Huggins, DB Julius Bents, LB Daniel Green
It's safe to say that Kansas State is one of those teams that won’t ever impress anyone when it comes out to the field. But once the game starts, the Wildcats can be a handful.
Turned out to be a very up-and-down 2021. KSU started 3-0, then went 3-3, then surged to 7-3 before dropping season finales to Baylor and Texas to finish 7-5.
They don’t wow with big plays. But they are steady. It’s hoped that Nebraska transfer QB Adrian Martinez can be consistent and add his legs to the offense as a dual threat. Martinez had a rocky time in Lincoln, NE and it was time for a change.
Vaughn is coming off a 1400-yard season and arguably the best back in the Big 12 not named Bijon Robinson.
Defensively, Anudik-Uzomah is as good as there is in the conference. He finished with 11 sacks in 2021. KSU’s front seven should be pretty stout but also adds linebacker transfers in Will Honas (Nebraska) and Shawn Robinson (Missouri). Bents is a Jim Thorpe (nation’s top DB) watch candidate.
The only way Kansas State can really get into the championship discussion is if it finds a way to knock off Oklahoma in Norman, OK. That game is Sept. 24. For now, consider the Wildcats right in the middle of the conference standings.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. South Dakota
Sept. 10 vs. Missouri
Sept. 17 vs. Tulane
Sept. 24 at Oklahoma
Oct. 1 vs. Texas Tech
Oct. 8 at Iowa State
Oct. 22 at TCU
Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 5 vs. Texas
Nov. 12 at Baylor
Nov. 19 at West Virginia
Nov. 26 vs. Kansas
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 10 starts to wind down the home schedule as the Bears play host to Kansas State.
These have always been games with some wild finishes. Baylor won on a field goal at the gun at home in 2020 and then had to find a way to win in Manhattan, KS last year with then-backup Brett Shapen after Gerry Bohanon went down with a right hamstring injury.
Shapen led Baylor to a 20-10 victory.
Kansas State, which can sometimes play spoiler in the conference race, is predicted 5th in the Big 12 preseason media poll.
Opponent: Kansas State
Head Coach: Chris Klieman (20-16, 5th season; 92-29 11th season overall)
2021 Record: 8-5, 4-5 (d. LSU, 42-20 in Texas Bowl)
Conference Affiliation: Big 12
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 10-9 (Bears have won the last 4 meetings)
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
Key Returners: RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Phillip Brooks, OL Cooper Beebe, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, NG Eli Huggins, DB Julius Bents, LB Daniel Green
It's safe to say that Kansas State is one of those teams that won’t ever impress anyone when it comes out to the field. But once the game starts, the Wildcats can be a handful.
Turned out to be a very up-and-down 2021. KSU started 3-0, then went 3-3, then surged to 7-3 before dropping season finales to Baylor and Texas to finish 7-5.
They don’t wow with big plays. But they are steady. It’s hoped that Nebraska transfer QB Adrian Martinez can be consistent and add his legs to the offense as a dual threat. Martinez had a rocky time in Lincoln, NE and it was time for a change.
Vaughn is coming off a 1400-yard season and arguably the best back in the Big 12 not named Bijon Robinson.
Defensively, Anudik-Uzomah is as good as there is in the conference. He finished with 11 sacks in 2021. KSU’s front seven should be pretty stout but also adds linebacker transfers in Will Honas (Nebraska) and Shawn Robinson (Missouri). Bents is a Jim Thorpe (nation’s top DB) watch candidate.
The only way Kansas State can really get into the championship discussion is if it finds a way to knock off Oklahoma in Norman, OK. That game is Sept. 24. For now, consider the Wildcats right in the middle of the conference standings.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. South Dakota
Sept. 10 vs. Missouri
Sept. 17 vs. Tulane
Sept. 24 at Oklahoma
Oct. 1 vs. Texas Tech
Oct. 8 at Iowa State
Oct. 22 at TCU
Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 5 vs. Texas
Nov. 12 at Baylor
Nov. 19 at West Virginia
Nov. 26 vs. Kansas
