Baylor heads into its Large 12 opener at Iowa State on Saturday planning to attract on the expertise from its double-overtime loss at BYU two weeks in the past.

The Seventeenth-ranked Bears (2-1) will play in entrance of one other massive and loud crowd at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, simply as they did in Provo, Utah, and so they’ll face one other motivated and hard-hitting opponent.

“Folks all the time speak about BYU being such a bodily staff. Effectively, since I’ve been right here, they are saying the identical factor about Iowa State,” linebacker Brooks Miller stated. “So we simply must be extra bodily.”

No. 19 BYU is by far the hardest staff Baylor has performed. The defending Large 12 champion Bears outscored their different opponents, Albany and Texas State, by a mixed 111-17.

Iowa State (3-0) might be going for its finest begin since 2000. Its closest recreation thus far was a 10-7 street win at rival Iowa.

The final three Baylor-Iowa State conferences have been determined by a complete of 11 factors. Baylor hasn’t gained in Ames since 2016 and this recreation units up as a defensive battle. Iowa State leads the Large 12 in complete, speeding and scoring protection. Baylor is third in complete and speeding protection.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell stated considered one of his greatest considerations is Baylor’s velocity. Each groups are within the prime 4 towards the go.

“Whenever you speak about their secondary, they will run and strike and so they’re bodily,” Campbell stated. “You speak about their D-line, they’re massive, they’re robust, however they will actually run. Linebackers play sideline to sideline.”

Miller stated he is impressed with the transition the Cyclones have produced from Brock Purdy to Hunter Dekkers at quarterback.

Dekkers is throwing for just below 250 yards per recreation, he is second within the Large 12 with eight landing passes, and his completion fee of 74.3% is fifth nationally.

“He’s good at getting the ball out,” Miller stated. “It’s all the time totally different seeing a lefty. He appears to be like actual good, he appears to be like clean.”

Baylor has not seen any drop-off in its floor recreation since Taye McWilliams went out with a head harm towards BYU. Freshman Richard Reese stepped in and ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns towards Texas State final week.

Bears coach Dave Aranda stated it is a pleasure watching Reese blossom.

“I feel there’s such an eagerness and such a heartfelt wish to get higher that’s sort of driving him,” Aranda stated, “and we’re method appreciative of that.”

X MARKS THE SPOT

Xavier Hutchinson, who set an Iowa Sate report with 83 receptions final season, already has 28. He is had no fewer than eight catches in any of the primary three video games.

NEW JOB, SAME RESULT

Anthony Johnson was top-of-the-line cornerbacks within the Large 12 for 4 years earlier than Campbell requested him to maneuver inside for the Cyclones for his remaining season. Thus far, so good.

Johnson is the staff’s lively chief in profession go breakups (25), however he did not have his first interception till final week towards Ohio.

“I feel I’m across the ball extra,” stated Johnson, who might be making his forty fifth consecutive begin. “I’m grateful and I like the transition and I’m glad that I made it.”

DOYLE HOMECOMING

Baylor’s Dillon Doyle might be again in his dwelling state after transferring from Iowa after the 2019 season. The Iowa Metropolis native has began 25 of his 26 video games at linebacker for the Bears and made 155 tackles. He additionally performs some fullback and has a receiving and speeding landing.

I’LL TAKE THAT

Iowa State is first within the Large 12 and ninth nationally with eight takeaways (4 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries). Baylor has two fumble recoveries and no interceptions by way of three video games. The Bears had no less than one takeaway in 23 straight video games earlier than arising empty towards BYU.

STATS ARE JUST NUMBERS

Baylor gained final yr’s assembly 31-29 in Waco regardless of Iowa State out-yarding the Bears 479-282 and having 85 fewer penalty yards. The Bears secured the victory when JT Woods intercepted Brock Purdy’s two-point conversion go with 24 seconds left.

——