Between the Hashes: Numbers Inside Week 4
The Longhorns and Baylor Bears rivalry goes back 122 years. Photo: Scott Wachter, USA Today
1901
Texas first squared off against Baylor in a football game in 1901. That’s right, it’s a rivalry that’s been 122 years in the making. For perspective, 1901 is the same year Walt Disney and Louis Armstrong were born, and Spindletop first struck oil in Beaumont. The first matchup was won by the Longhorns 23-0 in Waco. In what was a harbinger of things to come for the rivalry, Texas owns a lopsided 80-28-4 record over the Bears in 112 meetings.
The Longhorns have played Baylor more than any other opponent, and yet the 2023 edition will be the last one between the two programs. As Texas heads to join the SEC for the 2024 season and beyond, there is no current plan to schedule a game with Baylor. Despite the overall record, the modern version of this rivalry has been a lot closer - with Texas owning a 7-6 edge since 2010.
It’s evident that the Bears have been able to close the gap in talent and development over the last 15 years or so, and it’s a bit disappointing that these two schools won’t be competing on the field for the foreseeable future. I’m not sure if many fans will agree on either side, as Texas moves to greener pasture$ in the $EC. But here’s one guy who’s still nostalgic about the established traditions of college football and the regional rivalries.
The Bears will be without starting QB Blake Shapen and will have to rely on backup Sawyer Robertson - throwing for just 1 TD and 3 INTs thus far
24.7
Baylor comes into this week averaging just 24.7 points per game, good for about 80th in the nation. Offense has certainly not been their forte during their 1-2 start to the season, managing just 13 points at home against Utah and 30 points against Long Island in a game they were 44-point favorites.
Texas, on the other hand, is averaging 34 ppg, which at least lands them in the top 50 in FBS. The Horns are also the only team to have beaten 3 bowl teams from a year ago, so the quality of opponent may be factoring into that number not being higher. None of Texas’ opponents have lost a game outside of their matchup with the Longhorns this year.
For the Bears’ defense, it has been hit or miss. They surrendered 42 in a loss to upstart Texas State. Yet in their other two contests, allowed only 7 to LIU and had held Utah to just 6 points until the final 2 minutes of the game. Baylor fans may take encouragement from their defense having improved in each game coming into this week.
Texas’ defense has been one of the best in the nation, period. Still ranking tops in FBS in defensive efficiency, the standard has been set quite high through 3 games. The Horns held both Wyoming and Rice to season lows in point totals, with the Owls having scored 43 and 59 points in their two wins since being held to a measly 10 at DKR (and even then their lone touchdown was during garbage time). Wyoming put up 35 and 31 in wins prior to being held to 10 by this Texas defense.
Xavier Worthy is becoming one of the top receivers in Longhorn history. Photo: Scott Wachter, USA Today
38
Xavier Worthy is currently 38 yards away from eclipsing 2,000 career receiving yards at Texas. That would make him just the 11th player in school history to hit that mark. Projecting out for the rest of the season based on his totals in previous years, he will probably wind up around 7th or 8th on the all time school receiving yards list by the end of the year.
Worthy already lays claim to the #3 spot on the career receiving touchdowns list with 23, behind only Jordan Shipley and Roy Williams. He currently sits 10 TDs behind Shipley, and while not out of the question, it would be difficult for Worthy to catch him this season if only for the fact that Texas boasts a variety of receiving weapons for QB Quinn Ewers to spread the ball to. Should Worthy choose to stay for his senior season on the Forty Acres, however, he would bring all the receiving records into play and could wind up as one the top two or three most productive wide receivers in school history. (It’s worth noting that Worthy would need to double his current career yards total to eclipse Roy Williams in that category - so yeah, that one may be untouchable).
With the arrival of Adonai Mitchell, the veteran leadership and toughness of Jordan Whittington, and the continued growth of Ja’Tavion Sanders, the Longhorn pass catching group is a formidable one in 2023. Xavier Worthy still appears to be the favorite target of Ewers, and what’s not to like? His speed and quickness have been on display plenty, and he’s shown the power and elusiveness to pick up extra yards when necessary. He leads the team in receptions and yards thus far with 16 for 221 and 2 TDs, averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Look for him to have a big game against the Bears and surpass 2,000 career receiving yards. X gon’ give it to ya.
Hook ‘em
