Baylor freshman V.J. Edgecombe tried to put a man through the Earth’s crust on Monday during the Bears’ matchup with Gonzaga.
Let’s explain how we got here. To be clear, the Bulldogs embarrassed the Bears. It was never really any sort of competition. But that doesn’t mean Baylor went down without a fight. They were going to let out some frustration, even in garbage time.
As the second half ticked away, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few put his son, Joe, in to get some minutes. Unfortunately, poor Joe was on the receiving end of a steal and a fast-break transition bucket, and it didn’t end very well. Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe moved up the court and immediately proceeded to dunk all over unsuspecting Joe Few. YIKES.
Did the Oklahoma Sooners make the cut in USA TODAY Sports latest Bowl Projections after week 10?
The Oklahoma Sooners are a win away from qualifying for a bowl game after their 59-14 win over Maine. Bowl eligibility on the line in November wasn’t what anyone expected but with the way the season has gone, expectations have recalibrated.
Earning a bowl game allows the Sooners to get extra practice in, which would give them a headstart on the 2025 season. In particular, it would give the Sooners young offensive linemen critical snaps to prepare to compete for a starting job next season.
With games against Missouri, Alabama, and LSU remaining, three top 25 teams, the Sooners will have to pull off an upset to earn a postseason bowl berth. But USA TODAY Sports believes the Sooners will get there. College Football writer Erick Smith projects the Sooners to make the Texas Bowl, which takes place on Dec. 31 in Houston at NRG Stadium.
Their opponent would be a red-hot Baylor Bears team that’s won three in a row, beating Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and TCU. In the three wins, they’ve averaged 44 points per game and, in the process, made head coach Dave Aranda’s seat a little cooler.
The last time the two teams met was in 2022, when Baylor beat the Sooners 38-35. The Bears have won the last two matchups. The Sooners’ last win came with Caleb Williams under center towards the end of the 2021 season.
Oklahoma’s search for that elusive sixth win begins when they take on the [autotag]Missouri Tigers[/autotag] this Saturday evening in Columbia.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is off to a scorching hot start against Baylor in Waco.
The BYU Cougars started the college football season 3-0 with road wins over SMU and Wyoming, but didn’t really start to get attention until blasting Kansas State in the Big 12 opener, 38-9, in Week 4.
Now the nationally ranked Cougars are putting on a clinic in Waco, TX, going up 21-7 in the first quarter against the Baylor Bears behind a dominant start from quarterback Jake Retzlaff.
Retzlaff completed 5-of-6 pass attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, but it was a 17-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left in the quarter that gave BYU a 21-0 lead and quieted the surprising number of doubters still unsure if Retzlaff is the right man to lead the Cougars under center this season.
Retzlaff appeared in four games for BYU in 2023, completing just over 50% of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions. This season he looked outstanding in Week 1 over Southern Illinois, but threw a pair of picks against SMU and another against Wyoming, which had some folks worried he was too turnover prone for Kalani Sitake’s offense.
Retzlaff worked hard to put that narrative to rest with a pair of touchdown passes and a 71.4% completion rate against Kansas State, and now with a touchdown in the air and his first rushing score of the season already in the books against Baylor, it’s clear Retzlaff is not only good enough to start for BYU, he could lead them to a top three finish in the Big 12 and – perhaps – a shocking run to the College Football Playoff.
It was a tough weekend for two Big 12 head coaches on the hot seat coming into the season.
2024 represents a make-or-break season for both Dave Aranda of the Baylor Bears and Scott Satterfield of the Cincinnati Bearcats. Week 2 did not go well for either head coach, as the hot seat got even warmer after the performances of their teams on Saturday.
Things Are Not Well in Waco
Aranda and his Bears were not prepared for their Big 12 opener. They trailed the Utah Utes 23-0 before getting a field goal just before halftime. The Bears then scored nine points in the third quarter to make it somewhat respectable, but that was largely in part due to the injury to Utah’s Cam Rising.
The Bears quarterback play was miserable, with Dequan Finn completing just 9 of 21 passes for 115 yards in the game. On the defensive side, the Bears looked lost. Rising was torching them all over the field before the injury.
The 47-year-old Aranda has been with the Bears since 2020 and is under .500 in his career. He did have a monster 2021 season with the Bears, including a Sugar Bowl win. But, after back-to-back losing seasons, the folks in Waco are growing tired, and patience is running thin.
The heat will remain on as they host Air Force on Saturday, and then go to Boulder to take on Coach Prime and the Buffaloes on September 21st.
Epic Collapse to Rival not a Recipe for Success
Scott Satterfield was awfully good at Appalachian State and Louisville, but the 51-year-old has really struggled at Cincinnati so far. It may be too early, but a loss to a big rival such as Pittsburgh is many times a death sentence for a head coach. The loss dropped him to 4-10 as the leader of the Bearcats.
Cincinnati scored 27 of the first 40 points in the game. They led 27-6 late in the third. Then, disaster happened. Cincinnati saw Pittsburgh score three straight touchdowns and added a field goal to win the game on Saturday.
Running back Corey Kiner finished with nearly 150 yards but had a massive fumble in the game. The defense was good early, but could not get off the field when they needed to the most. Play calling, and lack of ability to put a game away, almost always falls on the head coach.
The Bearcats are at Miami OH on Saturday. A game they better be ready for, because the MAC has already shown up with big massive wins this early part of the season.
Both Aranda and Satterfield are going to be watched every game the rest of the way. If they can make it through this season, it probably is a miracle with the patience these athletic departments have when a coach is not winning.
Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda sits on the hot seat as the 2024 college football season gets underway.
The Baylor Bears open up the season on August 31st at home against Tarleton State. While the Texans should be no issue for the Bears, the rest of the schedule could prove to be a challenge. The man feeling the most pressure to have a big season in Waco is head coach Dave Aranda.
This is the fifth season for Aranda at Baylor. The 47-year-old came to Waco from LSU, where he was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
Aranda made a pair of bowl games, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Ole Miss. The last two seasons have not been great, however, with just nine wins in 22 games. The Bears are 6-12 in their last two seasons in Big 12 play.
USA TODAY Sports writer Scooby Axson put together a list of 10 head coaches who were on the hottest of hot seats to start the season. Aranda was on the list. Axson had this to say about his time with the Bears:
It seems like a lifetime ago since Baylor won the Sugar Bowl over Ole Miss (it was 2022), and any goodwill gleaned from the victory has slowly gone by the wayside. The Bears had the worst offense and defense in the Big 12, so Aranda has taken the reigns back and is calling the defense. Bringing in Jake Spavital to retool the offense was a smart move. The truth is there is no reason why the Bears can’t win this conference and win it consistently for years to come.
After Tarleton State leaves town, things get serious right away. Baylor goes on the road to Utah, which is the favorite to win the Big 12 in 2024. The Bears have a home game against Air Force, before going to Boulder to take on Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes. The Bears finish September with a home game against BYU.
As the college football recruiting landscape becomes more competitive, losing out on prospects who seemed like sure things is just part of the process. For Texas A&M, the Aggies’ 2025 recruiting class is now 18 commitments deep, as first-year head coach Mike Elko has the program on the right track.
On Sunday, one of A&M’s priority defensive prospects announced his collegiate destination. Four-star edge Kamauryn Morgan committed to Baylor over the Aggies and SMU.
Becoming the highest-ranked prospect in the Bears’ 2025 cycle, Morgan is also the ninth highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to the program. The productive pass rusher likely prioritizes immediate playing time, something that’s definitely in the cards down in Waco.
Standing at 6’5″ and over 230 pounds, Morgan sees Baylor head coach Dave Aranda as someone who could develop his skill set in the long term. Due to his size and impressive athleticism, the young pass rusher clearly possesses NFL potential.
However, as Aggie insider Jaxson Callaway points out, Elko and his staff will stay in contact with Morgan heading into his senior season at South Oak Cliff HS, knowing that nothing is set in stone except pen his paper on National Signing Day in February.
During his 2023 junior season at South Oak Cliff HS, Morgan recorded 65 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and 13 tackles for loss while already accounting for 11 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in his last two seasons.
According to 247Sports, Morgan is currently positioned as the 94th-ranked prospect in the 2025 class, the 12th-ranked Edge, and the 16th-ranked prospect in Texas.
🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star EDGE Kamauryn Morgan has committed to Baylor🐻
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.
Baylor Bears incoming freshman VJ Edgecombe dominated for the Bahamas in the Olympic qualifiers.
Another year, another outstanding guard prospect for Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears.
Two years ago Keyonte George was among the best guards in the country, ultimately getting selected in the lottery of the 2023 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Last year Ja’Kobe Walter had an outstanding season with Baylor, getting selected 19th overall by the Toronto Raptors last month.
Next year the story will be superstar guard VJ Edgecombe – and he has a real chance to be the best of the bunch.
Edgecombe played with the Bahamian squad as they competed for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games, ultimately falling to Spain in the championship game on Sunday.
On a squad with NBA stars like Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton – and competing against much older professionals – the 18-year-old Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, including multiple 20+ point performances, high-flying dunks, and a dagger three pointer against Poland.
“Everything [Edgecombe] does contributes to winning – offensively, defensively, getting downhill and the way he talks [on the court],” Bahamian head coach Christopher Demarco said. “He stepped into our training camp right away, and he belonged.”
The Bahamas may not have secured a spot in Paris for the Olympic games, but Edgecombe certainly did his part and gained valuable experience against older players.
He’s now set to head to Waco to prepare for his freshman season with Drew and the Bears, who have a new look roster after bringing in transfer stars Jeremy Roach (Duke) and Norchad Omier (Miami) in a quest to challenge Kansas, Houston, Iowa State, and Arizona for a Big 12 title.
A pair of double-doubles helped the Bahamas defeat Lebanon to advance to the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament.
A pair of double-double performances by its star players helped the Bahamas defeat Lebanon to advance to the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament in València, Spain.
Deandre Ayton produced 24 points and 15 rebounds and Buddy Hield had 19 points and 10 assists in their 89-72 victory on Saturday. Eric Gordon contributed 13 points and VJ Edgecombe chipped in 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.
The Bahamas led by as many as 20 points in the first half before Lebanon cut the deficit to five points early in the fourth quarter. However, the group outscored its opponent 22-10 the rest of the way to inch closer to securing its first appearance in the Olympic Games.
Edgecombe, who will play next season at Baylor, is one of six collegiate players on the roster and is representing the Bahamas for the first time at the senior level. He has emerged as one of their top players, averaging 18 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and two steals.
After beating Lebanon, the Bahamas (3-0) remained perfect in the qualifying tournament. The team will face either Spain (2-0) or Finland (1-1) in the final on Sunday (2 p.m. EDT), which will determine one of the four remaining spots in the 2024 Olympic Games.
The team that wins on Sunday will be placed in Group A to start the Olympics, along with Australia, Canada and the country that wins the qualifying tournament in Greece.
Edgecombe produced another sensational outing on Wednesday to lead the Bahamas to a win over Poland in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
After scoring 20 points on Tuesday, Baylor commit VJ Edgecombe produced another sensational outing on Wednesday to lead the Bahamas to a win over Poland in the Olympic qualifying tournament in València, Spain.
Edgecombe scored a team-high 21 points and six rebounds, and Buddy Hield had 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the 90-81 victory, which will send the Bahamas to the semifinals of the tournament after finishing as the top team in Group B.
The Bahamas, who also received 18 points and nine rebounds from Deandre Ayton and 12 points from Eric Gordon, did not trail in the contest and led by as many as 19 points. The team shot 51.7% from the field, including 44.8% from behind the arc.
Edgecombe, the No. 5 prospect in the class of 2024, is one of six collegiate players on the roster and is representing the Bahamas for the first time at the senior level. He has emerged as one of their top players and is tied with Hield in total scoring through two games (41 points).
After defeating Poland, the Bahamas will play next on Saturday in the semifinals against the second-ranked team from Group A, which features Angola, Lebanon and Spain. The game will tip off at either 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. EDT.
The winner of the qualifying tournament will claim one of the four remaining spots in the 2024 Olympic Games. That country will be placed in Group A to start the Olympics, along with Australia, Canada and another team from a qualifying tournament.
The Bahamas are seeking its first appearance in the Olympic Games.
Playing alongside three NBA players, Edgecombe dazzled to help the Bahamas defeat Finland to open the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament.
Playing alongside three players in the NBA, Baylor commit VJ Edgecombe dazzled on Tuesday to help the Bahamas defeat Finland to open the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament.
Buddy Hield produced a game-high 24 points and six rebounds, while Edgecombe finished with 20 points and four rebounds to lead the Bahamas to the 96-85 victory in Valencia, Spain. Deandre Ayton had 19 points and nine rebounds and Eric Gordon added 16 points.
Finland led by as many as nine points in the first half to take a 54-47 lead at the intermission. The Bahamas responded by outscoring Finland 49-31 in the second half, with Edgecombe scoring 10 points alone in the fourth quarter to help the group pull out the win.
“He has been a high-level talent all of his life,” Hield said of Edgecombe. “He even busted my (expletive) in practice, too. He has shown serious flashes, and he is very coachable. He just wants to learn the game and is fun to be around, fun to play with and responds the right way. He is a high-character kid and the game always rewards that.”
Edgecombe, the No. 5 prospect in the class of 2024, is one of six collegiate players named to the Bahamas’ final 12-man roster. He previously represented his country in the Nike Hoop Summit in April, recording 17 points and five rebounds in a loss to USA Basketball.
The 19-year-old quickly emerged as one of the top players in training camp to earn his first senior national team appearance. He averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in two tune-up games before the start of the qualifying tournament.
“He stepped into our training camp right away, and he belonged,” coach Chris Demarco said. “You never really know what somebody is going to look like until you see him around your veterans and your best players… from Day 1, he was ready. He has been waiting for this opportunity and it has been really beneficial for our team.”
After defeating Finland, the Bahamas can become one of two teams from Group B to advance to the semifinals of the tournament by defeating Poland on Wednesday. They would face one of the top two teams from Group A, which features Angola, Lebanon and Spain.
The winner of the qualifying tournament will claim one of the four remaining spots in the 2024 Olympic Games. That country will be placed in Group A to start the Olympics, along with Australia, Canada and another team from a qualifying tournament.
The Bahamas are seeking its first appearance in the Olympic Games.
