Baylor narrowly escapes Kansas State

Hayden Victoria

Baylor narrowly escapes Kansas State image

Connor Hawkins drilled a 53-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, and Baylor stormed back from a 14-point second-half deficit to stun Kansas State 35-34 on Saturday at McLane Stadium.

Baylor narrowly escapes Kansas State at home.

Baylor trailed 31-17 heading into the fourth quarter before erupting for 18 points in the final frame, capped by Hawkins’ game-winner. Sawyer Robertson threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, while Jacob Redding delivered a pivotal 66-yard interception return for a score that gave the Bears their first lead of the second half with just 4:28 remaining.

Kansas State reclaimed a 34-32 lead on Luis Rodriguez's 22-yard field goal at the 1:48 mark, but Baylor responded with a six-play, 28-yard drive to set up Hawkins’ clutch kick. Jayce Brown hauled in eight passes for a game-high 155 yards, and Bryson Washington led the Bears on the ground with 65 yards. Despite the Wildcats outgaining Baylor 501-443 and holding a massive edge in time of possession – 37:47 to 22:13, it was Baylor's day. 

Avery Johnson passed for 339 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas State and rushed for 72 yards, including a 31-yard TD in the first quarter. The Wildcats built a 31-17 edge early in the fourth after DJ Edwards’ 5-yard scoring run, but Baylor stormed back with Robertson’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Washington and a successful two-point rush, followed by Redding’s pick-six.

Kansas State’s last gasp ended with a blocked 56-yard field goal attempt as time expired, sealing Baylor’s wild comeback.

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS: 

  • Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
  • Lane Kiffin trash talks daughter's LSU linebacker boyfriend
  • ESPN analyst reveals college football's biggest disappointments
  • Arch Manning ranked shockingly low on ESPN's list of Power Four quarterbacks
  • Deion Sanders sends four-word message to his son over trust fund 

Hayden Victoria

Hayden Victoria is the founding CEO of Texas Sports Network and currently serves as Head of Content at SEC Unfiltered while contributing to USA TODAY’s Longhorns Wire. A proud student at the University of Texas at Austin, he has been credentialed to cover premier events like the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship, and NFL Combine.