Will Stidham get his shot?

[briandumith*]

Now that Russell is out with a broke bone in his neck... Who will be the Bears QB?


WACO, Texas (AP) — Second-ranked Baylor stretched its FBS-best home winning streak to 20 games without being the point-a-minute Bears everyone has been used to seeing.

Their big concern now is the health of quarterback Seth Russell, who sustained a fracture in one of the bones in his neck late in the Bears' 45-27 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

"He's a tough guy. It's hard to see tough guys hurt," coach Art Briles said. "That's probably the main concern right now, just for him, from an emotional standpoint and physical next."

Russell, the FBS leader with 29 touchdown passes, will see a specialist next week after postgame X-rays and a CT scan revealed the fracture. The timetable for his return is unknown.

The Bears called timeout after Russell's 4-yard run on a third-and-5 with 5:36 left in the game. While not apparent publicly that Russell was hurt, Briles said it was obvious on the sideline then that the junior quarterback was unable to continue in the game.

"I'm concerned because that's my No. 1 quarterback," Shock Linwood said, even before Baylor announced the X-rays results nearly three hours after the game.

Corey Coleman had two more touchdown catches and Linwood had 171 yards rushing on a dreary and rainy day along the Brazos River. Baylor was held under 60 points for the first time in six games, but never trailed.

The only other NCAA team with five consecutive 60-point games was Oklahoma in 2008. The Bears (7-0, 4-0, Big 12) had 485 total yards, leaving them well below their national-leading averages of 64 points and 720 total yards a game.

"It's hard to stay at a level that we've been at, energy-wise, emotionally and then production-wise," Briles said. "It's been insane."

Baylor led 35-0 by the middle of the second quarter before going more than 35 minutes — the equivalent of more than a full half — without a single point.

"A tough win, but I think it was a win we needed," Briles said. "You hate to say that, you'd like for everything to be like it's been. It's not going to be that way, it's not reality. I thought our guys did a great job of just kind of sustaining, and maintaining, and not panicking and just taking care of business."

Coleman had a 36-yard score on Baylor's opening drive, then had a downfield block that helped Russell break free on a 37-yard TD run for a quick 14-0 lead. Coleman caught a 12-yarder from Jarrett Stidham in the closing minutes, his FBS-best 18th TD catch this season and the 31st of his career to break Kendall Wright's school record.

Russell was 16 of 37 for 197 yards and two touchdowns.

"It was kind of tough catching the ball," Coleman said. "It's kind of hard to play when the ball's waterlogged and (for Russell) to try to throw the ball like a shotput. ... It was an ugly win, but we got it."

Iowa State (2-5, 1-3), which has lost its last 14 games against ranked teams, was within 35-20 on Joel Lanning's 4-yard TD pass to Jauan Wesley with 7:47 left.

"We had an opportunity to get an onside kick and pull this game within seven and put ourselves in a position to compete to win," coach Paul Rhoads said. "You do that on the road in conditions like this against the second-ranked team in the country, you're pleased with the energy and effort they gave."

Mike Warren had his fourth 100-yard rushing game for Iowa State, with 145 yards on 28 carries. Joshua Thomas, another freshman, ran 13 times for 77 yards and a score.

When Russell threw a 6-yard TD pass to Linwood to make it 28-0 early in the second quarter, Baylor's junior quarterback had 29 passing touchdowns and six rushing TDs. That is exactly what Bryce Petty had in his 12 games last season for the Bears before being drafted by the New York Jets.

Baylor hasn't lost a home game in more than three years, since a 49-21 loss to TCU on Oct. 12, 2012.

That home winning streak includes all 10 games since moving into their campus stadium last season along the Brazos River, swollen so much Saturday after nearly 14 inches of rain in the area over a two-day period that officials had to prohibit sailgating — Baylor's version of tailgating on boats.

With an open date next weekend, Baylor played its last game before the initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season come out Nov. 3. The Bears, the two-time defending Big 12 champs and first team left out of the first CFP last season, play two nights later at Kansas state.

"Yeah, I'm curious," Briles admitted about the first CFP rankings. "I'm not sure how much my curiosity is going to change anything. I think it's been proven it's got zero effect."

[clcannon17]

He should, but I don't know whether he's ready to lead this team to a national title. Of course, I could be wrong. Hopefully he leads this team almost as well, if not better than Russell, because I am hoping for that epic Baylor-TCU matchup to happen later this season.

[Celina8]

We will know more later this week as Seth will have more extensive examination. If Stidham is the QB to finish out the season I think Briles will have him more than ready and the Bears will still be fine as it looks like it is more about their offensive system as they just seem to be able to plug and go. They have a lot of talent on that team who will be able to carry the load while Stidham adjust to the live speed of the game and learning curves that every player experiences.

[briandumith*]

I think Stidham can do it.. I think he has the chance to really make his mark.. I wish the best for Russell of coarse..but Stidham has that it factor too...Go Bears!

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[briandumith*]

I was honored to see his final High School Game... I became a fan when he made time to stop and chat with our boys.. Look in the eyes of these young men.. They know he is something special.. Great Kid..

[hollywood]

Briles is high on Stidham. Obviously he didn't expect him to be the starter this soon. I'm sure Briles will have him as prepared as he can be in 2 weeks when the Bears travel to Manhatten and take on a weaker than normal K State team. Briles has stated that Stidham has the best upside of any QB he's ever had. Let's sit back and see if it comes into fruition.

[Emerson1]

I almost beat him in Cornhole at LJT this year. He needs to work on his accuracy.

[jason]

I almost beat him in Cornhole at LJT this year. He needs to work on his accuracy.

i did beat him!!

[Macarthur]

He should, but I don't know whether he's ready to lead this team to a national title. Of course, I could be wrong. Hopefully he leads this team almost as well, if not better than Russell, because I am hoping for that epic Baylor-TCU matchup to happen later this season.

I hope they are both undefeated too, but TCU is not in a very good way right now. I don't think they beat OU, as we sit here today, and WV is sneaky. We'll see.

[hollywood]

I almost beat him in Cornhole at LJT this year. He needs to work on his accuracy.

i did beat him!!

Oh yeah.. Think that's something?... I beat him in a game of H.O.R.S.E. a few summers ago in a friends pool. Lol


Couldn't out throw or out run him though.

[D'Highlander]

Reports are Seth is done for the year...

[Rocket Man]

Per ESPN report:

Seth Russell needs neck surgery, out for the year.

Later in the article, Briles indicates Stidham will be the starter.

[Rabid Cougar]

yes

http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-...102615aad.html

[briandumith*]

http://www.texasfootball.com/tepper-...ussell-injury/ Here as well... It's Stidham's team now...

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[hollywood]

Yep.. I truly hate to hear that for Russell.