Baylor defeats No. 17 SMU in 2OT stunner originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Baylor Bears staged a dramatic comeback in Dallas on Saturday, rallying late and eventually knocking off No. 17 SMU 48-45 in double overtime.
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Sawyer Robertson was threw two of his four touchdown passes in the final six minutes of regulation before Connor Hawkins sealed the win with a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime.
Robertson was brilliant, completing 34-of- 50 passes for 440 yards and four scores with no turnovers. He turned up the heat late in the fourth quarter, keeping the Bears alive after SMU appeared to have the game in hand.
The Mustangs were up 38–24 with less than nine minutes to play, Baylor’s offense started to hit another level. Robertson connected with Josh Cameron for a 48-yard touchdown at the 5:23 mark. He then hit Kobe Prentice on a 21-yard strike with just 34 seconds left to tie the game.
The Bears leaned on running back Bryson Washington in overtime. After SMU struck first with a 25-yard touchdown from Kevin Jennings to Romello Brinson, Washington powered in from two yards out to extend the contest. In the second overtime, SMU stalled after Jennings was shaken up, and kicker Collin Rogers missed wide right from 38 yards out. Baylor ran the ball six straight times to set up Hawkins’ game-winner, giving the Bears their 14th consecutive victory over the former Southwest Conference rival.
Baylor coach Dave Aranda praised his team’s resilience. “It’s a way competitive group. There’s guys that want to win. … You saw that,” Aranda said. Robertson added to that by saying, “In my brain, I was thinking that we’ve got to make something shake and pretty fast. Thankfully we did, and then we had to get the ball back and go do it again. Pretty crazy.”
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Despite the win, Baylor’s defense showed plenty of vulnerability. Jennings shredded the Bears in the first half, completing his first 10 passes for 236 yards. He finished with 296 yards and three touchdowns, including 75-yard bombs to Brinson and freshman Jalen Cooper. Running back TJ Harden also thrashed the Bears with 115 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. SMU built its 14-point fourth-quarter lead on back-to-back Harden scores following a Baylor turnover.
Despite all that, Baylor’s offensive firepower was too much. Cameron caught nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Ashtyn Hawkins added 10 receptions for 145 yards. Prentice chipped in with four catches, 63 yards, and two scores. Overall, the Bears piled up 601 yards of offense.
Baylor bounced back after a season-opening loss to Auburn. For SMU, the loss marked a second straight setback against a Power Five opponent, extending their losing streak to three, including the College Football Playoff.
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