WACO, TEXAS — The Baylor Bears are looking to avenge last season’s loss to Iowa State this weekend when they open Big 12 play.
Last year, the Bears trip to Ames was bitter cold. The temperature at kickoff was 26 degrees. But, the Cyclones still had what Head Coach Matt Rhule called an elite crowd.
This weekend, the matchup will be on the opposite side of the temperature spectrum, and Rhule hopes Baylor fans will show up.
"I hope I look up there and I see nothing but gold all across that stadium,” Rhule said. “I hope that when people turn on the TV, they see what it means to be a Baylor Bear.”
In that matchup last year, the Bears outgained Iowa State by nearly 150 yards, but they still fell 28-14. This year, they hope to follow their recent trend of hot starts but know this game, like most conference games, will be a tough battle to the end.
"We're gonna try to be as good as we can be on Saturday,” Rhule said. “And then win, lose or draw, we're gonna get ready to go play Kansas State and then the same thing, week after week after week.”
“That's the fun thing, though, about being in the conference. You know that every game is gonna be a fight. You know you have a chance every week. You know the other team has a chance. You have to go play your best football. So, we got through the non-conference and now we have to get through the conference. And, I can't think of a harder, touger test than Iowa State, just because the level they do things at is so high.”
Kickoff for the Bears' season opener is Saturday at 2:30 at McLane Stadium.
