WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor used a fast start and a strong defensive effort to defeat Prairie View 44-3 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in a NCAA Football Bowl Division game at McLane Stadium. The Bears evened their season record at 1-1, while the Panthers dropped to 1-2. Baylor controlled the game after an early Prairie View field goal, scoring 44 unanswered points. The Panthers’ only points came on their opening drive of the first quarter. Baylor’s home victory came in the first meeting between the programs this season.

Prairie View opened the scoring at 10:58 of the first quarter when Ethan Eddins made a 25-yard field goal. The Panthers led 3-0. Baylor answered at 8:20 of the quarter with a 46-yard field goal by R. Armstrong. The Bears took the lead for good at 4:22 when C. Knighten ran left for a 5-yard touchdown, and Armstrong’s extra point made it 10-3. Baylor added another first-quarter touchdown at 0:59 when Nate Bennett completed a deep right pass to J. McGowan for 33 yards and a score. Armstrong’s kick gave Baylor a 17-3 lead after one quarter.

The Bears continued to pull away in the second quarter. At 13:51, Bennett found D. Miller on a short right pass that went 22 yards for a touchdown. Armstrong’s extra point extended the lead. Bennett then scored on a 17-yard rush right at 12:55, again followed by an Armstrong kick. Baylor added a 45-yard field goal by Armstrong with 4:10 remaining in the half. A 41-yard field goal attempt by Armstrong with two seconds left in the half was no good. Baylor led 34-3 at halftime.

Baylor added to its advantage in the third quarter. With 1:39 remaining in the period, J. McGowan rushed left for a 13-yard touchdown. Armstrong’s extra point made it 41-3. The Bears finished the scoring in the fourth quarter when Armstrong made a 22-yard field goal with 8:42 remaining. Baylor’s defense kept Prairie View off the scoreboard after the opening drive, and the Panthers were unable to generate a sustained response.

Baylor’s scoring summary featured a 46-yard field goal by Armstrong, a 5-yard touchdown run by Knighten, a 33-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to McGowan, a 22-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to Miller, a 17-yard touchdown run by Bennett, a 45-yard field goal by Armstrong, a 13-yard touchdown run by McGowan and a 22-yard field goal by Armstrong. Prairie View’s lone score came on Eddins’ 25-yard field goal. The Panthers moved the ball early but could not keep pace after Baylor’s first-quarter surge.

Prairie View’s listed key performers included quarterback Tevin Carter, a Memphis, Tennessee, native who is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. Defensive end Jordan Campbell, a Middlesex, New Jersey, native, is 6-3 and 250 pounds. Defensive back Malachi Williams, a San Diego native, is 6-0 and 195 pounds, while defensive back Eric Zachery, a Dallas native, is 6-1 and 170 pounds. Safety Rondell Carter, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, is 6-1 and 180 pounds. Defensive back Kamrin Canterbury, a Saint Petersburg, Florida, native, is 5-9 and 186 pounds. Cornerback Nahamani Harris, a San Antonio native, is 6-2 and 200 pounds. Tight end Travon Jones, a Miami native, is 6-7 and 220 pounds. Wide receiver Braylon Finney, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native, is 6-1 and 180 pounds. Wide receiver Toric Goins Jr., a Freeport, Texas, native, is 6-2 and 180 pounds. Running back Ellis Bynum, a Happy Valley, Oregon, native, weighs 198 pounds. Running back Chase Bingmon, a Terrell, Texas, native, is 5-9 and 185 pounds. Other Prairie View players listed among key performers included Malik Gucake, Cedric Thornton Jr., Jacob Davis, Jace Ward, Damien McDaniel, Chaney Fitzgerald, Rodny Ojo, Ky’Yon Harris, Zayvion Turner-Knox, Kaeden Smith, Corey Thompson Jr., Marley Minerds, Ja’Koby Banks, Molik Mason, Leo Lane Jr., Xylan Williams, Christopher Harvey, Jalen O’Neal, Matthew Moore, Harrison Mckinley, Elijah Wilson, Aaron Woodard, DeMarcus Wynn, JJ Jean-Louis, Dorian Gates, Tyler Morehead, Damani Maxson and Austin Appiah.

Baylor’s key performers included receiver Louis Brown IV, a Los Angeles native who is 6-1 and 175 pounds. Linebacker Garrick Ponder, a Largo, Florida, native, is 6-2 and 229 pounds. Linebacker Travion Barnes, an Altamonte Springs, Florida, native, is 6-0 and 224 pounds. Receiver Micah Gifford, a Pflugerville, Texas, native, is 6-3 and 205 pounds. Defensive end Ryan Davis, a Phoenix native, is 6-4 and 252 pounds. Safety Bo Onu, a Carrollton, Texas, native, is 6-0 and 202 pounds. Kaleb Arterberry and Nate Bennett also were listed among Baylor’s key contributors. Bennett directed the passing attack and also scored on the ground, while Armstrong handled the kicking duties.

The game came in nonconference play for both teams. Prairie View entered after a 52-14 home win over Texas Southern on Sept. 6 and a 49-30 loss at Tarleton State on Aug. 29. Baylor entered after a 17-16 loss at Auburn on Sept. 5. The Panthers will return home to face Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 19 before hosting Grambling on Sept. 26. Prairie View then travels to Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 3, hosts Southern on Oct. 10, hosts Alcorn State on Oct. 17 and travels to Texas A&M-Commerce on Oct. 24. The Panthers will host Alabama A&M on Nov. 7 before road games at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 14 and Alabama State on Nov. 21.

Baylor will host Louisiana Tech on Sept. 19 and Colorado on Sept. 26 before traveling to Arizona State on Oct. 3. The Bears will host Texas Christian on Oct. 17, travel to Kansas on Oct. 24 and travel to UCF on Friday, Oct. 30. Baylor will host Iowa State on Nov. 7, travel to BYU on Nov. 14, host Texas Tech on Nov. 21 and close the listed schedule at Houston on Nov. 28. The Bears will look to build on the home victory, while the Panthers will seek to bounce back from the road loss.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Prairie View 31, Baylor 30. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Baylor with a 97.5 percent probability to win.