⚡ CFB Dashboard

Louisiana Tech starting quarterback Blake Baker is ruled out against Baylor with a hand injury, according to the preview. Backup Trey Kukuk is expected to challenge the Bears more with his legs. Baker's absence is reported as confirmed; the run-heavy expectation for Kukuk is the writer's projection, not a disclosed play-calling plan.

Baylor committed nine penalties for 85 yards against Prairie View A&M, six charged to the offensive line; Asher Hale had four false starts and a hold. The preview also flags defenders reaching Dawson Pendergrass and Caden Knighten in the backfield and warns that pass protection has not faced a strong rush yet. Aranda identifies discipline as an area to clean up before Big 12 play.

Baylor enters with a minus-one turnover margin after throwing three interceptions against Prairie View A&M; Louisiana Tech is plus-two with five takeaways, four against LSU. The preview identifies ball security as Baylor's main vulnerability and a possible route for the Bulldogs to stay competitive. Creating turnovers or converting them into points is not guaranteed.

The Baylor writer rates the defensive front as the team's best unit through two games and says cornerbacks Devon Jordan, LeVar Thornton Jr., Reggie Bush II and Kyler Beaty have played better than expected. That is an early-season scouting assessment of the front and coverage group, not a quantified improvement or proof they will shut down Louisiana Tech's replacement quarterback.