Despite Bears' loss, BYU-Baylor rivalry shaping up to be a Big 12 classic
Conference rivalries can be a thing of beauty, providing fuel to the competition. With Bedlam gone, the Red River Rivalry having moved on to SEC country, and new (and old) schools back in the fray, the Big 12 seems ripe for new rivalries to take the spotlight.
The matchup between BYU and Baylor seems to be on its way to becoming one of the best the Big 12 has to offer, if it's not already there. Saturday was the first matchup between the Bears and the Cougars as conference foes, resulting in a fast start for BYU to fuel a 34-28 win, but their last two meetups provided as much drama and intensity.
"A little dramatic at the end there," said Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake. "This is the Big 12, so guys aren't just going to quit, and they're capable of putting quotes on the board really quick. We just got some stops at the end ... You have to give Baylor credit for making it interesting at the end. They could have easily just folded up, especially at the beginning. But you have to give them credit for being a resilient, classy program."
The Cougars now carry a two-game win streak over the Bears, taking an overtime thriller in Provo, Utah, 26-20, on Sept. 10, 2022. The year before, BYU came into Waco for Baylor homecoming on Oct. 16, 2021, and the Bears were in the driver's seat for the 38-24 win against the then-19th ranked Cougars.
Due to the alternating schedule in the Big 12, BYU and Baylor won't face each other again until 2026, with the green and gold heading back to LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Sitake said that the similarities between the two programs are part of what makes the budding rivalry special.
"It was nice to join in their prayer at the end of the game there, and I've seen them do that when it works in their favor and when it doesn't, so that's something special," Sitake said. "We have a lot in common with them, and I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the way.
"Fans were amazing today. It was an awesome, awesome environment, and it's just fortunate that we were able to get this win, especially with the mistakes that we made."
Sports reporter
