5 takeaways from Baylor’s historic comeback win vs. UCF: Bears find new energy in Orlando (2024)

Baylor was left for dead on the side of the road against UCF on Saturday. But 28-straight second-half points propelled the Bears to an improbable 36-35 win over the Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Here are five takeaways from Baylor’s historic comeback:

Miraculous comeback

Trailing 35-7 midway through the third quarter, Baylor fans were probably wishing for the Bears to be put out of their misery. Baylor had other ideas, though, as 26 unanswered second-half points gave the team a shot to win the game with a field goal, facing a 35-33 deficit.

Blake Shapen and the offense stormed down the field to the tune of a 9-play, 61-yard drive that ended with the game-winning field goal. Isaiah Hankins drilled the 25-yarder, and the Bears stole a win over the Knights in Orlando. The 28-point comeback marked the largest rally in school history, and Baylor now has its first win over an FBS school in eight games, dating back to the 2022 season.

For a Bears squad that’s lacked energy for several games now, this is the type of win that could really spark something positive moving forward.

Shapen’s return key

Friday evening’s reports proved accurate, as starting quarterback Blake Shapen made his return for the Bears on Saturday. Shapen had missed the last three games prior to Saturday’s game with an MCL sprain, but he suited up and started for Baylor against UCF in Orlando.

Shapen was shaky at first, but ultimately led a high-powered attack that was able to rally back in this one. Shapen totaled 293 passing yards on 21 of 34 efficiency and one TD. The team was 5 of 7 in the red zone as well, something that’s been a major concern for this offense to start the year.

True freshman playmaker

Baylor probably gets blown out in this one if it weren’t for cornerback Caden Jenkins. The true freshman came up with a big second half interception and a 72-yard scoop and score TD to cut the Bears’ deficit to just two points at 35-33 with just over six minutes to go.

There haven’t been many bright spots on this squad amid a 1-3 start, but Jenkins has been playing at an elite level from the jump. The Lewisville product secured his first of many career interceptions on Saturday and helped lift Baylor over UCF in one of the wildest games you’ll ever.

Worst possible start

Baylor didn’t put itself in a position to win when it gave up 21 straight points in the first 6:17 of action. Obviously that wasn’t the intent or the goal, but it just can’t happen if you’re the Bears. This is especially true since they were in a hostile environment that didn’t need any added motivation to get excited.

But even an early hole like that didn’t prove to be too much. Baylor stormed back and scored 29 straight points to head back to Waco with its second victory of 2023.

Finally, a wide receiver TD

Baylor hadn’t completed a passing TD to a wide receiver going into Saturday’s game. Only tight end Drake Dabney had a TD reception on the season, and he had three of them. By comparison, Oklahoma’s Nic Anderson already had four receiving TDs going into Saturday.

That’s simply not a recipe for success. An opposing defense has to respect the air attack, and teams have been able to load the box up and limit the Bears’ rushing attack since a receiver hasn’t been able to hit pay dirt. The passing game mishaps throw the entire offense out of whack, and the goal has to be to get the ball into those playmakers’ hands near the end zone.

Monaray Baldwin broke the spell on Saturday, though, as he hauled in a 5-yard TD pass from Shapen in the fourth quarter. Baldwin, who was named to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” before the start of the season, has major potential to be a playmaker in this offense; just needs more targets.

Baldwin finished with 150 yards on seven catches and a TD.

Twitter/X: @MichaelHaag_

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