Baylor Bears football, 1980–89

Baylor Bears football (1980–1989) was a football organization that represented Baylor University during the 1980s.

1980

Main article: 1980 Baylor Bears football team

1981

1981 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1981 record	5-6 (3-5 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1981 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 1981 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season sixth in the Southwest Conference. In the Battle of the Brazos, the Bears beat Texas A&M for the fourth consecutive season. It was the longest winning streak the Bears had in the rivalry.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 5	Lamar*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 17–18	22,000
September 12	Bowling Green*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 38–0	20,000
September 19	at Louisiana Tech*		Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LA	W 28–21	21,000
September 26	Texas Tech		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 28–15	40,000
October 3	at Houston		Astrodome • Houston, TX	L 3–24	28,118
October 10	at #14 SMU		Texas Stadium • Irving, TX	L 20–37	33,110
October 17	Texas A&M		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 19–17	45,000
October 24	TCU		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 34–21	40,000
November 7	at #19 Arkansas		War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR	L 39–41	54,560
November 14	Rice		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 14–17	30,000
November 21	at #8 Texas		Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	L 12–34	72,806
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

1982

1982 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1982 record	4-6-1 (3-4-1 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1982 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 1982 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season fifth in the Southwest Conference.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 4	North Texas State*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 21–17	24,000
September 11	at #14 Ohio State*		Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	L 14–21	88,622
September 25	at Texas Tech		Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX	W 24–23	46,049
October 2	Houston		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	T 21–21	31,750
October 9	#6 SMU		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 19–22	30,000
October 16	at Texas A&M		Kyle Field • College Station, TX	L 23–28	64,017
October 23	at TCU		Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX	L 14–38	23,811
October 30	at Tulane*		Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA	L 15–30	23,463
November 6	#5 Arkansas		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 24–17	42,000
November 13	at Rice Owls football		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 35–13	12,000
November 20	#17 Texas		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 23–31	38,000
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Team Players drafted into the NFL

Walter Abercrombie 1st round Pittsburg Steelers. Dennis Gentry 4th round Chicago Bears.

1983

1983 Baylor Bears football
Bluebonnet Bowl, L, vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 14–24
Conference	Southwest Conference
1983 record	7-4-1 (4-3-1 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1983 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1983 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season third in the Southwest Conference. They lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Bluebonnet Bowl, 14-24.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 10	BYU*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 40–36	32,500
September 17	at UTEP*		Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX	W 20–6	25,709
September 24	Texas Tech		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 11–26	38,000
October 1	at Houston		Astrodome • Houston, TX	W 42–21	26,640
October 8	at #13 SMU		Texas Stadium • Irving, TX	L 26–42	45,025
October 15	Texas A&M		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	T 13–13	40,000
October 22	TCU		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 56–21	35,876
October 29	Tulane*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 24–18	20,050
November 5	at Arkansas		Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR	W 24–21	44,820
November 12	Rice		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 48–14	26,500
November 19	at #2 Texas		Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	L 21–24	76,208
December 31	vs. Oklahoma State*	#20	Astrodome • Houston, TX (Bluebonnet Bowl)	L 14–24	50,090
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

1984

1984 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1984 record	5-6 (4-4 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1984 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1984 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season sixth in the Southwest Conference.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 8	at #13 BYU*		Cougar Stadium • Provo, UT	L 13–47	63,705
September 22	at #11 Oklahoma*		Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK	L 15–34	75,018
September 29	at Texas Tech		Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX	W 18–9	41,328
October 6	Houston		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 17–27	34,500
October 13	#7 SMU		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 20–24	26,400
October 20	at Texas A&M		Kyle Field • College Station, TX	W 20–16	54,618
October 27	at TCU		Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX	L 28–38	23,885
November 3	New Mexico*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 38–2	26,000
November 10	Arkansas		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 9–14	43,500
November 17	at Rice		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 46–40	11,125
November 24	#6 Texas		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 24–10	33,500
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

1985

1985 Baylor Bears football
Liberty Bowl Champions
Liberty Bowl, W, vs. LSU Tigers, 21–7
Conference	Southwest Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#15
AP	#17
1985 record	9-3 (6-2 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Floyd Casey Stadium

The 1985 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1985 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season second in the Southwest Conference to Texas A&M, although Baylor won the head-to-head matchup with the Aggies that season. A highlight of BU's season included a win at USC in week 3 when the Trojans were ranked in the Top 5.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 7	Wyoming*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 39–18	32,000
September 14	at #18 Georgia*		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 14–17	77,190
September 21	at #3 USC*		Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	W 20–13	52,544
September 28	Texas Tech		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 31–0	36,500
October 5	at Houston	#19	Astrodome • Houston, TX	W 24–21	25,787
October 12	at #16 SMU	#19	Texas Stadium • Irving, TX	W 21–14	42,112
October 19	Texas A&M	#14	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 20–15	48,756
October 26	TCU	#13	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 45–0	42,500
November 9	at #10 Arkansas	#8	[War Memorial Stadium] • Little Rock, AR	L 14–20	54,684
November 16	Rice	#17	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 34–10	30,250
November 23	at Texas	#15	Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	L 10–17	78,912
December 27	vs. LSU*		Liberty Bowl • Memphis, TN (Liberty Bowl)	W 21–7	40,186
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

1986

1986 Baylor Bears football
Bluebonnet Bowl Champions
Bluebonnet Bowl, W, vs. Colorado Buffaloes, 21–9
Conference	Southwest Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#13
AP	#12
1986 record	9-3 (6-2 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1986 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1986 NCAA college football season. The Bears offense scored 325 points, while the Bears defense allowed 207 points. The Bears finished the season second in the Southwest Conference. In the Battle of the Brazos, Texas Football magazine voted the 1986 football game between Baylor and Texas A&M the outstanding game of the Southwest Conference of the 1980s. Texas A&M overcame a 17-0 deficit, and won the game 31-30 to advance to the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 6	at Wyoming*	#12	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY	W 31–28	20,542
September 13	Louisiana Tech*	#12	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 38–7	31,000
September 20	USC*	#9	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 14–17	35,000
September 27	at Texas Tech	#17	Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX	W 45–14	41,046
October 4	Houston	#13	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 27–13	34,000
October 11	#20 SMU	#20	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 21–27	36,900
October 18	at #11 Texas A&M	#20	Kyle Field • College Station, TX	L 30–31	74,739
October 25	at TCU		Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX	W 28–17	24,101
November 8	#10 Arkansas		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 29–14	44,500
November 15	at Rice	#18	Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 23–17	12,500
November 22	Texas	#17	Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 18–13	42,500
December 31	vs. Colorado*	#14	Rice Stadium • Houston, TX (Bluebonnet Bowl)	W 21–9	40,470
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Awards and honors

• Thomas Everett, Jim Thorpe Award

Team Players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Ron Francis	Defensive Back	2	39	Dallas Cowboys
Ray Berry	Linebacker	2	44	Minnesota Vikings
Cody Carlson	Quarterback	3	64	Houston Oilers
Thomas Everett	Defensive Back	4	94	Pittsburgh Steelers
John Adickes	Center	6	154	Chicago Bears
Johnny Thomas	Defensive Back	7	192	Washington Redskins

1987

1987 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1987 record	6-5 (3-4 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Baylor Stadium

The 1987 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1987 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season fifth in the Southwest Conference.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 5	Louisiana Tech*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 13–3	22,535
September 12	at Missouri*		Memorial Stadium • Columbia, MO	L 18–23	37,172
September 19	at UNLV*		Sam Boyd Silver Bowl • Paradise, NV	W 21–14	27,128
September 26	Texas Tech		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 36–22	34,816
October 3	at Houston		Astrodome • Houston, TX	W 30–18	22,751
October 10	SW Texas State*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 36–15	21,739
October 17	Texas A&M		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 10–34	46,812
October 24	TCU		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 0–24	36,138
November 7	at Arkansas		Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR	L 7–10	51,496
November 14	Rice		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 34–31	20,075
November 21	at Texas		Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	L 16–34	61,331
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Team Players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Joel Porter	Guard	10	273	Chicago Bears

1988

1988 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1988 record	6-5 (2-5 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Floyd Casey Stadium

The 1988 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1988 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season fourth in the Southwest Conference. Baylor Stadium's name was officially changed to Floyd Casey Stadium during halftime of the homecoming game against Arkansas, November 5.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 3	UNLV*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 27–3	25,610
September 10	at Kansas		Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS	W 27–14	43,200
September 17	at Iowa State*		Cyclone Stadium • Ames, IA	W 35–0	43,913
September 24	at Texas Tech		Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX	L 6–36	45,385
October 1	Houston		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	L 24–27	34,719
October 8	Texas State*		Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX	W 45–7	22,473
October 15	at Texas A&M		Kyle Field • College Station, TX	L 14–28	67,884
October 22	at TCU		Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX	L 14–24	25,221
November 5	#11 Arkansas		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	L 3–33	40,148
November 12	at Rice		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 20–10	13,200
November 19	Texas		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	W 17–14	30,142
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Team Players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Ray Crockett	Defensive Back	4	86	Detroit Lions
John Simpson	Wide Receiver	10	277	Chicago Bears

1989

1989 Baylor Bears football
Conference	Southwest Conference
1989 record	5-6 (4-4 SWC)
Head coach	Grant Teaff
Home stadium	Floyd Casey Stadium

The 1989 Baylor Bears football team represented the Baylor University in the 1989 NCAA college football season. The Bears finished the season fourth in the Southwest Conference. In the season's final game, Baylor defeated Texas by the score of 50 to 7. It was BU's seventh-ever victory in Austin and the first there since 1951.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 9	at #8 Oklahoma*		Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK	L 7–33	74,600
September 16	at Georgia*		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 3–15	82,007
September 23	Kansas*		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	W 46–3	26,765
September 30	Texas Tech		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	W 29–15	38,785
October 7	at #12 Houston		Astrodome • Houston, TX	L 10–66	31,433
October 14	at Southern Methodist		Ownby Stadium • Dallas, TX	W 49–3	21,434
October 21	#23 Texas A&M		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	L 11–14	45,565
October 28	Texas Christian		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	W 27–9	35,713
November 11	at #10 Arkansas		Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR	L 10–19	51,352
November 18	Rice		Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX	L 3–6	22,133
November 25	at Texas		Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	W 50–7	49,081
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Team Players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
James Francis	Linebacker	1	12	Cincinnati Bengals
Robert Blackmon	Defensive Back	2	34	Seattle Seahawks