Baylor can score faster than the time it took you to read this sentence.
The Bears put on a big-play clinic on Friday night in front of a hostile crowd at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, scoring eight touchdowns—six of which came through the air—to win by a score of 56-21 over SMU.
The opening drive should have been a good clue as to how the rest of the game was going to go, as Baylor scored a touchdown on its first offensive possession—a four-play drive that took but 50 seconds off the clock.
The fact that the Bears scored quickly wasn’t really much of a surprise. After all, this team scored more points per game last season than any other team in college football. That said, with Bryce Petty moving on via the NFL draft, everyone wondered if Seth Russell would be able to carry the torch for the Bears with the same panache.
After Week 1’s performance—a six-touchdown barrage (five passing and one rushing)—it’s clear Russell is well equipped to continue the good work Petty, and Robert Griffin III before him, started.
All told, Baylor’s offense totaled 723 yards against a feisty SMU defense that actually held its own for portions of the contest, believe it or not. In the end, however, the Bears were simply too overpowering and too explosive for the Mustangs.
Four receivers caught passes that went over 40 yards for the Bears, with Corey Coleman (five catches for 178 yards and one touchdown) and KD Cannon (three catches for 104 yards and one touchdown) leading the way.
The running game was rolling as well, averaging 8.1 yards per carry—a gaudy figure by any standard against any opponent—led by a trio of backs who gained at least 71 yards apiece.
This was a buzzsaw performance.
And, as good as Baylor’s offense was, there is plenty of room for improvement.
Russell only completed half his passes (15 of 30) but still managed 376 yards (12.5 yards per attempt). Once he cleans up his mistakes and the offensive line protects him better, Baylor’s offense has the potential to skyrocket into the stratosphere.
It’s worth noting SMU’s defense can’t compare to the Alabamas and Ohio States of the world. That said, This was a terrific opening performance by Russell and company, proving Baylor’s offense will once again be one of the best—if not the best—in college football this year.