Hey remember that time Texas lost to Kansas in football?

Good times. But that’s not why these two are paired. With the Baylor football season just over one week away, we have to fit two previews in the last week of the offseason! So here’s your two-for-one quick-hitter.

Texas Quick-Hitter

Opponent: University of Texas

Nickname: The Longhorns

Kickoff: November 23rd

Location: McLane Stadium

Conference: Big XII

Head coach: Tom Herman

Last year’s record: 10-4

Notable outcomes: Beat Baylor 23-17; Beat Oklahoma 48-45; Lost to Oklahoma 39-27; Beat Georgia 28-21

Key Losses: Almost the entire defense (only two starters return); Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR

Strength: Quarterback. Part of Texas’s struggle over the past decade has been the inability to secure consistent quarterback play. The Longhorns seem to finally have that consistency in quarterback Sam Ehlinger. In a conference of elite quarterbacks, Ehlinger will be competing for the top spot.

Weakness: Defense. The defense got completely gutted in the offseason and will be replacing the entire front seven. That youth will certainly show through. However, Baylor plays Texas late in the season when that inexperience will likely be mitigated.

Prediction: This game is so hard to predict because it’s difficult to judge where the Texas defense will be. The Longhorn offense should be solid. But so should Baylor’s offense, so I think this game could come down to defenses and maybe a flair of home field advantage. I subscribe to the belief that Baylor will win one of it’s two back-to-back home games against Oklahoma and Texas. I think Texas has the best chance to regress this season between the two, so I’ll take the Bears to win a close, chippy game in Waco.

24-23 Baylor

Kansas Quick-Hitter

Opponent: University of Kansas

Nickname: The Jayhawks

Kickoff: November 30th

Location: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

Conference: Big XII

Head coach: Les Miles

Last year’s record: 3-9

Notable outcomes: Lost to Baylor 26-7; Beat TCU 27-26; Beat Rutgers 55-14

Key Losses: Steven Sims, WR; Joe Dineen Jr., LB; Daniel Wise, DL

Strength: Running backs. Kansas does have a very explosive running back in Pooka Williams. He’ll have to sit out the first game of the season but should be good to go after that.

Weakness: Defensive Line. The Jayhawks lost key pieces to their defensive front, including now Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Daniel Wise. There’s young talent there but it’s mostly unproven. The defense could get beat up by teams that are willing to commit to the run game.

Prediction: I think Les Miles has a shot to turn Kansas around into at least something somewhat respectable. I don’t think he can do that in one year. If Kansas can get one or even *gasp* two conference wins that would be a massive step in the right direction. Baylor on paper should have no issues beating this team in Lawrence. My only concern is this is a prime trap game: on the road after back-to-back-to-back games against TCU, Oklahoma, and Texas. But, since it’s the last game of the regular season, Baylor should be locked in aiming for either a bowl spot, a better bowl spot, or perhaps a Big 12 championship bid if things go exceptionally well. Baylor takes care of business. (A side note, the 18 part ESPN+ series “Miles to Go” debuts next Thursday with episodes following the Jayhawks throughout the season. I for one am very interested in watching this for the unintended comedic value and the insight it should bring to this match up).

35-14 Baylor