Texas makes sure there’s no Sugar left for Baylor

WACO, Texas — No. 12 Baylor’s season has gone from sweet to bitter and battered.

Down to a fourth quarterback because of yet another injury, the Bears lost their Sugar Bowl chance after falling 23-17 to Texas on Saturday in their regular-season finale.

“We just have to try to salvage the year by going to a bowl game and winning the bowl game,” Baylor Coach Art Briles said.

A picture-perfect day on the banks of the Brazos River, which marked the final home game for 19 seniors and standout junior receiver Corey Coleman, was marred by their third loss in four games and a bench-clearing melee in the first quarter.

“The crazy part, this is probably the best Baylor team that’s been here and the record doesn’t say it,” said Coleman, the FBS leader with 20 TD catches who was recognized with the seniors before the game and confirmed afterward that he plans to forgo his senior season for early entry in the NFL draft.

Baylor ( 9- 3, 6- 3 Big 12) went into November undefeated after junior quarterback Seth Russell, then the top-rated FBS passer suffered a season-ending neck injury Oct. 24. Freshman Jarrett Stidham won his first start but broke a bone in his ankle in his third one before Chris Johnson started the past two games, only to get hurt Saturday.

Even after their raindrenched, double-overtime loss at TCU the night after Thanksgiving, the Bears were in line to be the Big 12’s representative in the Sugar Bowl against an SEC team, with the expectation that league champion Oklahoma (11-1) will get into the College Football Playoff. That would now be Oklahoma State (10-2).

Tyrone Swoopes, making his first start for Texas since the opener, threw for 151 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score. The Longhorns (5-7, 4-5) held on after building a 20-0 halftime lead but still have consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1988-89 in the old Southwest Conference.

“We have something to build on that we can take into the offseason,” said Charlie Strong (Batesville), who wrapped up his second season as Texas’ coach with a victory. “Not pleased with the year we had. You look at it, you go beat Oklahoma, you bounce back and go on the road and go beat Baylor. I don’t have an answer for this team. I wish I did. I wish every week could have been like this.”

Johnny Jefferson ran for 158 yards for Baylor and had enough yards to convert a fourth-and-4 with 2:31 left before defensive tackle Poona Ford stripped the ball loose and fell on it.

Baylor still had a chance after the Longhorns punted, but Jefferson’s pass from the Texas 47 on the last play of the game was incomplete. Jefferson, a running back with a stronger arm, attempted the pass instead of Lynx Hawthorne, the fourth quarterback.