![\"Jarrett](\"https:\/\/www2.baylor.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/stidham-nov15.jpg\")
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Don\u2019t call Baylor’s newly-minted starting quarterback a freshman. Head coach Art Briles isn\u2019t. Freshman is now \u201ca word we don\u2019t use,\u201d Briles told the media<\/a>\u00a0on Monday. And when asked if he would simplify the nation\u2019s top offense or temper the team\u2019s lofty expectations\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0young quarterback newly\u00a0thrust into the starting role, his answer was even more direct.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, and heck no.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Seth Russell\u2019s season-ending injury vs.\u00a0Iowa State and subsequent surgery<\/a> to repair a broken bone in his neck have\u00a0caused many to wonder<\/a> how Baylor\u2019s title hopes will\u00a0be impacted. But with quarterback Jarrett Stidham waiting in the wings, there\u2019s reason to believe the high-octane Baylor offense will continue to operate as the nation\u2019s best.<\/p>\n First, there\u2019s Art Briles — the quarterback whisperer;\u00a0his results speak for themselves<\/a>. Briles\u00a0helped mold Robert Griffin III into a Heisman Trophy winner, Nick Florence into the program\u2019s single-season passing leader, Bryce Petty into a two-time Big 12 champion and Seth Russell into a QB who was on pace to shatter numerous records before his injury. No coach in the last decade has done a better job of putting each starting quarterback he\u2019s coached in a place\u00a0where he can succeed.<\/p>\n Then, there\u2019s the cast around Stidham. No one questions the value of starting behind Baylor\u2019s stellar offensive line, which has paved the way for the nation\u2019s highest scoring and most-balanced offense. Stidham will also have weapons like Corey Coleman (on pace to set the NCAA single-season receiving touchdown record), Shock Linwood (on pace to become Baylor\u2019s all-time leading rusher), and the rest of Baylor\u2019s incredible collection of receivers and running backs to lean on. The returning players formed the nucleus of an offense that led the nation in points and yards the last two seasons, and is poised to do so again.<\/p>\n Then, there\u2019s Stidham himself — the No. 1 dual-threat high school quarterback in the nation<\/a> a year ago, and a guy who graduated high school\u00a0early so he could get a jump start on joining\u00a0his new team.\u00a0That means he\u2019s been with the program for almost 11 months<\/a>, gaining valuable reps and experience that will suit him now that he\u2019s in the starting role.<\/p>\n With the Bears blowing out so many opponents during the first half of this season, Stidham has gotten far more playing time than most backup QBs — and he’s made the most of it.\u00a0His very first collegiate pass was a 42-yard touchdown<\/a>, and so far this year he\u2019s thrown more touchdowns (6) than incompletions (4). Overall, Stidham is\u00a024-of-28 passing\u00a0for 331 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.<\/p>\n