Baylor: 2026 Week 12 recap

Baylor is ranked 31st by GIE after a decisive 42–31 home win over Iowa State last week—a result that lifted the Bears' rating by 4.8 points to 13.3. At 6–3, they've quietly climbed into playoff consideration territory, though the model gives them only a 7.2% shot at postseason play. The gap between their performance and their opportunities tells the story: a red-zone TD rate of just 14% means Baylor is leaving points on the field, and a 39% third-down conversion rate keeps drives from sustaining. This week brings a road test at BYU, a Big 12 foe that will test whether the Bears can maintain momentum or if their efficiency issues resurface in a hostile environment.