6 things you should know before the Texas Bowl kicks off

On New Year’s Eve, Baylor football will face LSU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl (2:30 p.m., ESPN) — the reward for a stirring second-half surge that got the Bears to 8+ wins for the eighth time in 14 years.

Before the two teams kick off, here are six things you should know to get you ready for the game:

1. Different paths to Houston — Few teams in the nation enter bowl season hotter than the Bears. Only one Power 4 team (undefeated Oregon, at 14-0) enters bowl season with a longer winning streak than the Bears at six straight. LSU has the same 8-4 record, but lost three of their last five games after cracking the top 10 earlier this season.

2. High-Octane Offense — The Baylor offense took a huge step forward this year under new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, increasing their scoring from next-to-last in the Big 12 last year to No. 2 in the league in 2024 (good for No. 20 nationally). And the numbers were even better in the second half; over the last two months, Baylor was in the top five nationally in yards per game, and sixth in points per game.

3. Top QB Showdown — The Texas Bowl will feature two of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation. After earning the starting job in week three, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson ranked top-five nationally in quarterback rating (QBR), and his 26 passing touchdowns were third-most in the Big 12. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier finished 14th nationally in QBR and among the top 10 nationally in passing yards and touchdowns.

4. Different Approaches to Offense — Baylor’s offense showed more balance than LSU this year, pairing Robertson’s arm with an incredible ground game. Bryson Washington became the first BU freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards, and he and Dawson Pendergrass gave Baylor the only Power 4 duo with over 1,000 yards and 600 yards rushing, respectively. LSU’s offense was dominated by their passing game, with 315 yards per game through the year per game versus just 117 yards per game on the ground.

5. New helmets — The Bears will debut new helmets for the bowl, featuring a script “Baylor” on a gold helmet (pictured above) — a variation on the gold/script uniforms Baylor men’s basketball unveiled earlier this year. The gold helmet/white jersey/green pants combination is also a first for Baylor since going to the Baylor United look in 2019.

6. A Reunion of Sorts — Baylor head coach Dave Aranda won a national title at LSU as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator in 2019, the highlight of his four seasons there, and his defensive pedigree was on display again this season for the Bears. After taking over defensive playcalling duties this year, Aranda’s squad went from last in the Big 12 defensively to the middle of the pack, showing continued signs of improvement throughout the year. His staff also features five other former Tigers going up against their old employer.

NRG Stadium promises to feature plenty of fans from both teams, as its location in Houston makes it a hotbed for both alumni bases in one of this year’s more interesting bowl matchups outside of the College Football Playoff.

Sic ’em, Bears!

[Still thinking of going? Baylor’s ticket allocation is sold out, but select seats are still available directly from the Texas Bowl. See you in Houston!]