WACO, TX — No. 12 Baylor held on for a 23-17 victory over unranked Cincinnati, extending its winning streak to five games and strengthening its grip on first place in the Big 12.
The Bears struck early, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a short touchdown run by Tyshawn King and a 26-yard field goal from Bruce Cook. In the second quarter, quarterback Walker White found freshman receiver Quincy Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown pass, giving Baylor a comfortable 20-3 halftime advantage.
Baylor’s offense slowed considerably in the second half, but Cook delivered when needed, connecting on field goals of 19 and 24 yards in the fourth quarter to provide enough breathing room for the Bears.
Cincinnati made things interesting late. Quarterback Sam Jones connected with Paul Clutts on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 remaining to cut the deficit to six points. However, Baylor free safety Jamarcus Ryder intercepted Jones on the Bearcats’ final possession, allowing the Bears to run out the clock.
White finished with a steady 224 passing yards and a touchdown without an interception. Dawson Pendergrass paced the ground game with 125 yards on 17 carries, while Robinson led Baylor’s receivers with five catches for 91 yards and a score.
Baylor’s next three games:
- Week 9: vs. UCF
- Week 10: at No. 24 Kansas State
- Week 11: at No. 12 TCU
