No. 16 Baylor wins 31-24 as Texas again blows big lead

WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor tight end Ben Sims had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter before Abram Smith spun away for a 32-yard scamper to the end zone in a 31-24 win Saturday, when the 16th-ranked Bears became the third team in a row to overcome a double-digit deficit to beat Texas.

The handoff to the sweeping Sims for a score with 12:48 left put the Bears (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) back ahead for the first time since the first quarter. Texas then had a failed fake punt attempt, setting up Smith's nifty run three plays later when he took a quick pitch left, reversed field after spinning away from a defender.

Texas (4-4, 2-3) was coming off its open date, which followed consecutive losses to No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 15 Oklahoma State in which the Longhorns led by at least two touchdowns before halftime both times.

“I think getting punched in the face by a really good Texas team, I think was anticipated,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “So it was good that we were able to get our hands back up and throw some punches of our own. I'm proud of this team.”

Big 12 rushing leader Bijan Robinson was limited to 43 yards on 17 carries, well below his 132 yards a game average with a 2.5 yard-per-carry that was the lowest in his career.

Jalen Pitre, who plays a hybrid linebacker-DB position for Baylor, said coaches emphasized staying in their gaps, and what to do when Robinson did break the line. His longest run was 9 yards.

“We’re all running to the ball, so I think when you add those two, it’s very hard for a running back to break those long runs and get that momentum that they need to get going,” Pitre said.

Robinson did put the Longhorns up 21-10 with his 1-yard TD run on fourth down early in the second half when he followed a pair of blocking nose tackles with a combined weight of 643 yards into the end zone.

After the Longhorns forced a punt and got the ball back with 2:07 left and no timeouts, Casey Thompson had four consecutive incompletions. He was heavily pressured on two of the throws.

“You never want to lose. They all suck,” Robinson said. "We work really hard throughout the week to get wins. But some things just don’t go our way.”

Smith finished with 113 yards on 20 carries. Gerry Bohanon threw for 222 yards with two interceptions, after only one pick the first six games, and had a 6-yard TD run in the third quarter.

Thompson threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, a 10-yarder to Joshua Moore and a 63-yarder when he hit Xavier Worthy in stride after the true freshman raced passed sixth-year safety Jarion McVea for a 14-10 lead.

In between those TD passes, Baylor used a little trickery for its first score, with Bohanon handing off to Trestan Ebner going left, before he reversed the ball with a pitch to receiver Tyquan Thornton. The former high school quarterback then threw to a wide-open R.J. Sneed in the middle of the end zone for a 6-yard TD to tie the game at 7.

THE TAKEAWAY

Texas: The Longhorns have been outscored 69-23 in the fourth quarter over their past six games — at least they won the first three games in that stretch. This loss pretty much eliminates any chance for them to make the Big 12 championship game in coach Steve Sarkisan's first season. Texas could end up just fighting to break even during the regular season.

“It’s not about what’s down the road. It’s about what’s right in front of us," Sarkisian said. "And what’s right in front of us is Iowa State.”

Baylor: This was an important home win Aranda's second season. The Bears were already bowl eligibility, but wrapped up October with three straight wins at home after a 24-14 loss at Oklahoma State to start the month.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Bears will likely move up after another proving win. They had beat future Big 12 foe BYU, which was ranked then and is again, before their open date.

UP NEXT

Texas: The Longhorns play on the road for the second week in a row at No. 22 Iowa State.

Baylor: The Bears have their first road game in five weeks, going about 90 miles north on Interstate 35 to play at TCU for the 117th time. That is the only team Baylor has played more than Texas.

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