How Did Baylor Lose To Texas State
🏈 Hold Up, What Just Happened?! Decoding the Baylor-Texas State Shocker
Y'all, grab a comfy seat and maybe a stress ball, because we need to talk about one of the wildest curveballs the college football gods threw at us to start the 2023 season. We're talking about the time the Baylor Bears, a Power Five team and a heavy favorite, got absolutely blasted by the Texas State Bobcats, a squad that was rolling out a new head coach and had more fresh faces than a high school reunion. It was a savage 42-31 beatdown, and let me tell you, it was not what anyone saw coming. It was like expecting a gentle sprinkle and getting hit with a tidal wave of Bobcat brilliance.
How did the Vegas odds-makers get this so wrong? Baylor was a massive 26.5-point favorite! That's a huge spread, folks! This wasn't just a loss; it was a cosmic disturbance in the college football universe. Let's break down the whole shebang, step-by-step, and figure out the recipe for this monumental upset.
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| How Did Baylor Lose To Texas State |
Step 1: 🤯 The Bobcat Blitz: When Texas State Said "Not Today!"
The first thing you gotta know is that Texas State didn't just stumble into a win—they came out swinging, throwing haymakers right from the jump. This wasn't some timid underdog hoping for a lucky break; this was a team that had new energy and a major chip on its shoulder.
1.1 New Coach, New Vibe: The Kinne Effect
Texas State was rolling with G.J. Kinne, a new head coach who brought an exciting, high-octane offensive philosophy from his previous gig. Think fast, fun, and totally unpredictable. He had a roster loaded with transfer players—a whopping 71 newcomers—which meant they weren't bogged down by past performance. They were playing with nothing to lose, and that is a dangerous, dangerous thing in football.
Tip: Every word counts — don’t skip too much.
1.2 Lights Out, Touchdown Town!
While Baylor was still trying to find their car keys, Texas State's offense was already in the end zone. After Baylor kicked an early field goal, the Bobcats went on an absolute tear. Quarterback TJ Finley was slinging the ball, finishing with almost 300 yards and three touchdowns, plus one on the ground. Running back Ismail Mahdi had a monster 65-yard touchdown run—a play that really signaled to the crowd: “Hey, we're serious about this!” The Bobcats scored on six of their first eight drives, making Baylor's defense look like they were still on summer vacation.
Step 2: 🛑 Penalties, Protection, and The Perpetual Pitfalls
Now, let's talk about Baylor. While Texas State was playing lights-out, the Bears were shooting themselves in the foot more times than a cartoon villain. This was an absolute clinic on how not to execute under pressure.
2.1 The Offensive Line Was a Total Mess
This is where the game was truly lost. The Baylor offensive line, which was a big question mark coming into the season, played atrociously. They were physically dominated, giving up three sacks and a boatload of tackles for loss (TFLs). But worse than the pressure was the sheer volume of penalties.
False Starts Galore: In the first quarter alone, the O-line was flagged for four false starts. Imagine having a beautiful play called, only to be backed up five yards before the ball is even snapped. It sucked the rhythm right out of the offense.
Settling for Less: Their first drive got all the way to the 1-yard line, but a false start pushed them back, forcing them to settle for a field goal instead of a game-changing touchdown. Trading field goals for Texas State's touchdowns? That's a recipe for an L, every single time.
2.2 The Injury That Stung: QB Woes
Tip: Don’t overthink — just keep reading.
To make matters worse, quarterback Blake Shapen suffered a knee injury (an MCL sprain) early in the game. He was an absolute warrior, trying to gut it out, but he was clearly compromised. This injury meant:
Less Mobility: He couldn't scramble or escape pressure effectively.
Substitution Shuffle: Backup QB Sawyer Robertson had to step in, which disrupted the flow and rhythm of the game plan. You never want to have to rely on a hobbled starter or a cold backup in a nail-biter.
Step 3: 💔 The Final Fizzle: Turnovers and Missed Chances
Even with all the early drama, Baylor fought hard and managed to crawl back, getting the score within one possession (28-21) early in the third quarter. But every time they got close enough to make it a real contest, Texas State had an answer, and Baylor made a game-sealing mistake.
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3.1 The Red Zone Horror Show
Baylor had some huge yardage gains, with a total of over 500 yards of offense, but they couldn't turn those yards into six points when it mattered. They had five trips inside the Texas State 20-yard line (the "red zone"), but had to settle for a field goal or got completely shut down three times.
3.2 Clutch Turnovers—Ouch!
In the final minutes, when Baylor needed a miracle, the mistakes piled up like a bad laundry day:
Note: Skipping ahead? Don’t miss the middle sections.
The Interception: Backup QB Sawyer Robertson threw a pass that was tipped and intercepted in the end zone for a touchback. Talk about a gut punch! That's a 14-point swing from a potential Baylor touchdown to Texas State taking over.
The Fumble: On their very last desperate drive, Robertson broke a big run, but a Texas State defender stripped the ball, and the Bobcats recovered. Game. Over. These late-game turnovers were the absolute dagger.
Texas State simply wanted it more, played disciplined football, and capitalized on every single Baylor blunder. It was a perfect storm of an inspired underdog and a favorite having an absolute nightmare.
FAQ Questions and Answers
How did Texas State's offense find so much success against Baylor's defense?
Texas State's offense, led by new coach G.J. Kinne, utilized a fast-paced, high-volume attack with transfer quarterback TJ Finley. They executed crucial third and fourth down conversions (going 4-for-4 on fourth down!), and made big plays like the 65-yard touchdown run, which often found the Baylor defense out of position or unable to generate enough pressure.
What was the single most damaging factor for Baylor's offense?
The most damaging factor was the lack of protection and resulting penalties by the offensive line. They had numerous false starts (four in the first quarter alone) which pushed the offense out of advantageous field position, forcing them to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns on critical drives.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Did the Baylor quarterback injury play a big role in the loss?
Absolutely. Quarterback Blake Shapen sustained an MCL injury in his left knee during the game. While he tried to play through it, he was visibly hobbled, limiting his mobility. The eventual substitution of the backup quarterback further complicated the team's ability to mount a sustained comeback.
How rare was this victory for Texas State football?
This was a historic win for Texas State. It marked their first-ever victory against a Power Five conference opponent, making it arguably the biggest win in the program's history.
What was the final score of the Baylor vs. Texas State game?
The final score of the game was Texas State 42, Baylor 31.
Would you like a breakdown of Baylor's next big game after this shocking loss?
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