Still plenty to play for

Win over Baylor would keep Longhorns’ Big 12 title game hopes alive

AUSTIN — Texas can be thankful it gets to play a meaningful post-thanksgiving game a year after skidding into its annual Black Friday finale with a losing record.

The 23rd-ranked Longhorns (7-4, 5-3) will conclude their regular season against Baylor (6-5, 4-4) at 11 a.m. Friday at Royalmemorial Stadium. With a win, Texas could earn a berth in next Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.

Here’s what to watch for when the Longhorns and Bears meet for the 112th time:

1. Potent run game

Baylor has rushed for at least 230 yards in four of its past five games. It ran for 232 and three touchdowns in last week’s lastsecond loss to TCU.

Texas has been stout against the run, limiting Big 12 opponents to 122.9 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry. And the Longhorns have surrendered only two touchdowns on the ground in their past three games with the front seven dominating at the point of attack.

Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen has nearly as many turnovers (12) as touchdown passes (14) this season, so expect Texas to stack the box to try forcing the Bears to air it out.

2. Meaningful Senior Day

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Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Texas QB Quinn Ewers likely will be a bigger part of the game plan against Baylor than he was in last week’s win over Kansas.

Ed Zurga/getty Images RB Bijan Robinson, a projected first-round pick, probably is playing his final game in Austin.