By ROBERT CESSNAIf the Texas A&M football team beats Baylor on Saturday, it will be bowl-eligible. The Bears need to beat the Aggies and win next week against Texas Tech to accomplish that.
But at least Baylor has that chance, which wasn't the case last year and hasn't been in most years.
"We've got something in front of us," Baylor head coach Art Briles said. "Now we've got to go take care of business and make it a reality."
The Bears (4-6, 1-5) haven't played in a bowl game since 1994, when they won two of their last three league games to earn a trip to the Alamo Bowl. Baylor has never won two of its last three Big 12 regular season games.
After all, the Bears haven't won two Big 12 games in 10 of the league's 13 seasons.
But despite losing sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin to a season-ending knee injury in the third game, the Bears could have a breakthrough season with a strong finish.
Baylor has four victories with two games left for only the third time since the formation of the Big 12. The last time was 2005 when the Bears lost five straight after starting the season 4-1. The first loss of that streak was 16-13 to A&M in double overtime at Kyle Field, where the Aggies have been extra tough on the Bears.
Baylor has lost eight straight at Kyle Field, and its last victory was 1984 when legendary Bears coach Grant Teaff was in his heyday. Current A&M head coach Mike Sherman was the offensive line coach at Tulane, and Briles was at Hamlin in his first year as a high school head coach that year.
The only history between the two current head coaches was in last year's 105th meeting of the Battle of the Brazos. The Bears scored 28 unanswered points for a 41-7 lead en route to a 41-21 victory, rolling up 510 total yards.
"They'll come in here, particularly based off of last year's game, feeling they have a legitimate chance to win this football game," Sherman said. "It's important for us to take control of the game and do all we can to dissuade them from wanting to win this game. But I think they have plans of their own."
That's especially true for Baylor's 12 starting seniors.
"I think that anytime we have played these guys, it always seems to be an exciting game," said Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek, who had two interceptions in last year's victory. "It's a big rivalry, and both sides are always amped up for the game."
Both teams also will be trying to put lopsided losses behind them. Texas blasted Baylor 47-14, while Oklahoma rolled A&M 65-10 last week.
"I welcome the challenge of these bowl implications that are involved because that's why you play," Briles said. "I think if you asked me that and I said, 'no,' I wouldn't be honest.
"It's always going to be a big game because it's in your state, a rivalry, and they're 80 miles down the road. But you add a bowl game to it, and it makes it even better."
For Baylor's seniors to get a monumental road victory, it's almost imperative to get a big game from true freshman Nick Florence, who has replaced Griffin.
Florence passed for a school-record 427 yards on 32-of-43 passing and three touchdowns in a 40-32 victory at Missouri two weeks ago. That earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Last week, he threw three interceptions against Texas. He was 28-of-45 passing for 240 yards and one touchdown.
"Honestly, I thought he battled hard," Briles said. "We had a couple of misfortunate things that happened early. Other than that, I thought he kept his composure over the course of the game."
Florence will be working against an A&M defense that's allowing 428.2 yards per game, which ranks 104th nationally. The Aggies are allowing 263.4 yards passing per game, which is 112th.
"They're throwing the ball very well," Sherman said. "The quarterback has really matured and grown up in system and is getting the ball out quick."
Baylor is averaging 245.5 yards passing per game, which is 37th in the country. The Bears have thrown 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. A&M has allowed 16 touchdowns and with eight interceptions -- getting one in each of the last four games.
Griffin gave A&M fits last year. He threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns by completing 13 of 23 passes. He also rushed for 56 yards on 12 carries.
"Obviously, there's no one like Robert who can run the football," Sherman said. "They don't run the quarterback quite as much. They'll spread you out in some empty, and they'll probably do a little more of that."
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NOTES -- Former Madisonville quarterback Brad Taylor is listed as a backup wide receiver for BU. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior has 13 catches for 166 yards and one score. Jenner Jones is redshirt freshman linebacker for the Bears from Lexington. He's played in one game with three tackles. ... Baylor wide receivers coach/special teams coordinator Dino Babers was at A&M from 2001-02.
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
* Saturday's game: Baylor (4-6, 1-5 Big 12) at Texas A&M (5-5, 2-4), 2:30 p.m.
* TV/radio: None/WTAW, 1620 AM and Sirius Ch. 154
* Tickets: $35-$70
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