Baylor Bears rout Arizona State Sun Devils 55-19 in Tempe

Decisive Moments Define the Rout

The visiting Baylor Bears dismantled the home Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, winning 55-19. The decisive surge came from a combination of explosive passing and rushing plays that extended Baylor’s lead into a comfortable margin. DJ Lagway was the architect of the offense, completing 25 of 40 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns.

His connection with receivers Tony Livingston, Louis Brown IV, Hawkins Polley, and Jadon Porter provided the bulk of the point production, while running backs Ryelan Morris and Caden Knighten added significant ground game impact. The game was played in front of a crowd of 54,063 fans, with Baylor establishing dominance early and maintaining control through the final quarter.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

Arizona State struck first in the opening period when Carson Smith kicked a 46-yard field goal. Baylor responded immediately with a 63-yard run by Ryelan Morris, followed by a three-yard pass from Lagway to Livingston. The Bears extended their lead to 14-3 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Lagway found Louis Brown IV for a 10-yard touchdown, giving Baylor a 21-3 advantage. Arizona State trimmed the deficit slightly with a 32-yard field goal by Smith and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Cutter Boley to Omarion Miller. Rhett Armstrong added a 36-yard field goal for Baylor, setting the halftime score at 24-13.

The third quarter saw Baylor pull away with touchdowns from Polley and Porter, plus a 75-yard run by Caden Knighten. Arizona State added a field goal, but Baylor led 45-16 entering the final period. In the fourth quarter, Arizona State scored a 40-yard field goal, but Lagway ran for an 11-yard touchdown and Armstrong kicked a 23-yard field goal to seal the 55-19 victory.

Key Performers and Statistics

Baylor’s offensive balance was evident in the stat lines. Lagway’s 306 passing yards and four touchdowns were matched by the rushing efforts of Morris, who carried nine times for 84 yards and a touchdown, and Knighten, who broke a 75-yard score. Gavin Freeman led Baylor’s receiving corps with seven catches for 115 yards.

For Arizona State, Boley completed 25 of 43 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown, though he also threw one interception. Kyson Brown rushed for 34 yards on seven carries, and Reed Harris led the Sun Devils in receiving with seven catches for 125 yards.

Carson Smith provided the kicking for Arizona State, making four field goals, while Rhett Armstrong handled the extra points and field goals for Baylor.

Final Records and Context

With the win, Baylor improved its record to 4-1, while Arizona State dropped to 2-2. The game showcased Baylor’s ability to move the ball efficiently against a home opponent that managed to score in every quarter but could not keep pace with the Bears’ offensive output. The final score of 55-19 reflects the disparity in execution between the two teams on the day.

Sources

ESPN