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Baylor Holds Off Colorado 23-13 in Home Opener

DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes as Baylor defeated Colorado 23-13 at McLane Stadium on Saturday. The Bears improved to 3-1, while the Buffaloes fell to 2-2.

Sasha Yoder

September 27, 20262 min read

football stadium - illustration, Jake Team LLC
NCAA FootballFinal
Colorado Buffaloes13
Baylor Bears23

September 26, 2026

A Definitive Home Victory

The Baylor Bears secured a decisive 23-13 victory over the visiting Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at McLane Stadium in Waco. With an attendance of 40,015 watching from the stands, the home squad utilized a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops to clinch the win against their Big 12 rival.

Scoring Breakdown

Colorado struck first, taking a 3-0 lead into the second quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Elliott Arnold. However, Baylor responded in the second period with a flurry of points. Rhett Armstrong connected on a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 before DJ Lagway found Gavin Freeman for a 3-yard touchdown pass.

The extra point gave Baylor a 10-3 advantage heading into halftime.

The third quarter saw both offenses struggle to find rhythm. Rhett Armstrong added another field goal, this one from 27 yards out, extending Baylor’s lead to 13-3. Elliott Arnold answered for Colorado with a 46-yard kick, making the score 13-6 at the break of the final period.

The fourth quarter opened with Colorado mounting a comeback attempt. Isaac Wilson connected with Joseph Williams on a 17-yard touchdown pass, and Arnold’s kick narrowed the gap to 13-13. But Baylor immediately regained control.

Lagway threw his second touchdown pass of the day, this one finding Jadon Porter on a 33-yard strike. Armstrong capped the scoring with a 54-yard field goal, sealing the 23-13 final tally.

Key Performances

DJ Lagway was the primary catalyst for Baylor’s offense, completing 19 of 39 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, though he did throw one interception. Gavin Freeman led the receiving corps with six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Dawson Pendergrass provided ground support with 16 carries for 85 yards.

For Colorado, Isaac Wilson completed 12 of 25 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown. Joseph Williams was the standout receiver, hauling in 11 receptions for 127 yards and a score. Micah Welch contributed on the ground with nine carries for 35 yards.

Final Records

With this win, Baylor improves its record to 3-1. Colorado drops to 2-2 on the season.

Sources

ESPN

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Sasha Yoder

Sasha Yoder covers Richardson high school and area college sports.

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