WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor turned to its passing game and a steady defense to defeat Louisiana Tech 36-19 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game at McLane Stadium. The Bears improved to 2-1 while the Bulldogs fell to 1-2. Baylor scored in every quarter and created enough separation with explosive plays from Nate Bennett to Louis Brown IV and Jayden McGowan. Louisiana Tech moved the ball through the air and had scoring chances, but the Bulldogs could not keep pace after halftime. The game featured a combined 55 points, though Baylor controlled most of the important stretches.

Trey Kukuk led Louisiana Tech at quarterback, completing 25 of 44 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown while adding 75 rushing yards on 11 carries. Kukuk kept plays alive with his legs and gave the Bulldogs a chance to rally. Eli Finley was his most reliable target, catching eight passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Mickens contributed in multiple ways with four receptions for 63 yards and a rushing touchdown to go with 14 yards on two carries. Marcus Calwise Jr. added four catches for 36 yards, Talyn Shettron had three receptions for 33 yards, and Dylone Brooks added three catches for 16 yards. Andrew Burnette scored a touchdown and finished with 18 rushing yards on six carries. Jaden Miller led the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with 34 yards on 11 attempts and added one catch for six yards. Jay Wilkerson caught one pass for eight yards.

Baylor’s offense produced the game’s defining plays. McGowan scored twice and finished with two receptions for 79 yards, also returning one punt for four yards and recording a tackle. Louis Brown IV caught two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Freeman was a consistent target with seven receptions for 47 yards. Taz Williams Jr. added two catches for 20 yards, and DeBraun Hampton had one reception for 10 yards. Tight ends Tony Livingston and Hawkins Polley each caught one pass, for nine and three yards respectively. HD Davis added one rushing yard. Bennett’s deep throws to Brown and McGowan repeatedly stretched the Louisiana Tech secondary and helped Baylor answer the Bulldogs’ pressure.

Louisiana Tech’s defense received heavy production from Alonzo Jackson Jr., who recorded 10 tackles, and Kolbe Fields, who had nine tackles and one sack. Jadon Mayfield finished with eight tackles and one sack, while Taeden Rogers added seven tackles. Sam Fongang made six tackles, and MJ Moultrie II had five. Zheric Hill recorded four tackles. Donovan Rieman, Kam Franklin and Jordan McRae each made three tackles. Jacob Bradford and Kaleb Coleman each finished with two tackles. Amari Butler, Justice Williams, Amari Wilks, Ty Jones and Za’Qwaun Nunn each contributed stops, with Williams adding a quarterback hurry and Nunn adding a sack. That defensive effort kept the Bulldogs within range for much of the second half, but Baylor’s big plays prevented a full comeback.

Baylor’s defense also made timely plays. Colby McCalister and Bo Onu each recorded five tackles, and Onu added one sack. Micah Gifford had seven tackles. Tyler Turner finished with five tackles and one quarterback hurry. Garrick Ponder added two tackles and one quarterback hurry. Jordan Mack recorded a quarterback hurry, while Trent Thomas had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Devon Jordan came away with an interception. Reggie Bush II contributed in the secondary. The Bears limited Louisiana Tech’s rushing attack and forced the Bulldogs to rely on Kukuk’s arm, which produced yards but not enough points.

Special teams played a role as well. Baylor punter Palmer Williams averaged 53 yards on two punts, finishing with 106 yards. Rhett Armstrong handled the kicking duties and converted key attempts, including a 23-yard field goal. Louisiana Tech punter Lexington Matthews had three punts for 115 yards. Dedrick Latulas returned two kickoffs for 33 yards. Kaegan Kent handled field-goal attempts for the Bulldogs, including tries from 37 and 34 yards that were no good. Those missed opportunities loomed large as Louisiana Tech tried to stay within striking distance.

Baylor opened the scoring in the first quarter when Bennett rushed 25 yards for a touchdown and Armstrong added the extra point. Louisiana Tech answered with Burnette’s 2-yard touchdown run, and Kent’s extra point tied the game. Baylor regained the lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by D. Pendergrass and Armstrong’s kick. Bennett then found Louis Brown IV for a 51-yard touchdown, though the extra point failed. Louisiana Tech had chances to cut into the lead before halftime, but Kent missed field goals from 37 and 34 yards, leaving the Bulldogs behind at the break.

The Bears extended their advantage in the third quarter when Bennett connected with McGowan for a 43-yard touchdown. Baylor later added a 23-yard field goal by Armstrong. Trailing by a sizable margin, Louisiana Tech found some rhythm in the second half. Kukuk hit Finley for a 19-yard touchdown, but the subsequent two-point attempt failed. Later, Mickens rushed 2 yards for a touchdown, and another two-point attempt failed. Those missed conversions kept the Bulldogs from making it a one-possession game. Baylor sealed the result in the fourth quarter when Bennett hit McGowan for a 36-yard touchdown and Armstrong made the extra point.

The victory gave Baylor a 2-1 record. The Bears previously defeated Prairie View 44-3 after opening the season with a 17-16 loss at Auburn. Baylor will host Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 26, before traveling to Arizona State on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Bears will then face Texas Christian at home on Saturday, Oct. 17, and play at Kansas on Saturday, Oct. 24. A Friday game at UCF follows on Oct. 30. Baylor then returns home against Iowa State on Nov. 7, travels to BYU on Nov. 14, hosts Texas Tech on Nov. 21, and plays at Houston on Nov. 28.

Louisiana Tech dropped to 1-2. The Bulldogs opened the season with an 80-6 win over Northwestern State before falling 45-14 at LSU. Louisiana Tech will next host Army on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Bulldogs then host Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 10, travel to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 17, host Old Dominion on Saturday, Oct. 24, and play at South Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 31. Louisiana Tech will visit Troy on Nov. 7, host Southern Mississippi on Nov. 14, host Arkansas State on Nov. 21, and travel to Georgia Southern on Nov. 28.

Interstat’s game simulator projected Baylor 35, Louisiana Tech 31. Interstat’s ELO system gave Baylor an 89.7 percent probability to win. Louisiana Tech had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +19.5. The total score of 55 went under the over/under line of 49.5.