Devonte Tezino was carted off with a severe leg injury less than a minute into Baylor's game against Prairie View A&M. Five other Bears shared four sacks, and the defense allowed just 110 yards in Baylor's 44-3 win. The front kept producing that night. Now it has to sustain that work. Dave Aranda said Tezino will miss the rest of the season.
Baylor hosts Louisiana Tech on Saturday, September 19, at 3 p.m. Central on ESPNU. The Bears have a 74% chance to win. See the interactive guide for Baylor's outlook and the methodology for how the probabilities are calculated.
Baylor hired defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman after allowing 32.6 points per game in 2025. With few defensive-line returners, the Bears also added seven transfers up front, including Ryan Davis and Garrick Ponder. Both recorded sacks against Prairie View. That is an encouraging return on the investment in the front, and a reason to watch the rotation rather than expect one player to replace Tezino's entire contribution.
Aranda described his defense as connected and energetic and called the Auburn and Prairie View performances a good back-to-back effort. Fans can take encouragement from two outings while still asking for more. Against Louisiana Tech, watch whether successive groups keep creating pressure and stopping the run. The replacement depth has one productive night behind it, not a season of proof.
The offense can help by keeping possessions. Against Prairie View, Baylor threw three interceptions and committed nine penalties for 85 yards. Aranda said the offensive line was not yet ready to impose the run when opponents expected it. Those are specific reasons to care about how Baylor wins this week, even if the score becomes comfortable.
Louisiana Tech gives those mistakes a sharper consequence. The Bulldogs forced four first-half turnovers at LSU, including three interceptions; Jordan McRae returned one 100 yards for a touchdown. Tech trailed only 10-7 at halftime before losing 45-14. Baylor should be favored, but handing this defense scoring opportunities is an obvious way to keep the visitor involved.
Baylor's first three possessions against Auburn ended with DJ Lagway's lost fumble, his interception and a missed 42-yard field goal. Aranda acknowledged that his coaching and communication contributed to those unfinished opportunities. Baylor retained him after a university review that emphasized excellence, accountability and competitiveness; sustained improvement means correcting mistakes that have now survived a victory, too.
On September 14, Aranda said he expected Lagway to play against Louisiana Tech after the ankle injury kept him out against Prairie View. If he returns, watch his movement as well as his passing. Against Auburn, the injury removed designed quarterback runs and changed Baylor's short-yardage packages. Taking snaps would be encouraging; restoring those options would tell fans more.
Aranda's September 14 update also put Baylor's center on pace to return. Those offensive reinforcements remain projections, while his announcement about Tezino established a season-long loss. Saturday would feel like a meaningful step if Baylor's returning players expand the offense and its remaining defensive linemen keep making plays without him.