MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) Baylor’s fill-in quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw for 419 yards and three scores in his first start as the Bears held off a feisty Kansas State 31-24 on Thursday to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Stidham, taking over for the injured Seth Russell, also ran for a touchdown to help the No.2-ranked Bears improve to 8-0 for only the second time in history.
The quarterback’s favorite target was Corey Coleman, who caught 11 passes for 216 yards while his two touchdown receptions pushed his nation-leading total to 20 for the season.
Kansas State got to 31-24 on Joe Hubener’s touchdown pass to Deante Burton with 4:07 left, and Baylor kicker Chris Callahan’s missed field goal with 51 seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a chance.
But on their first play, Hubener threw a lateral to wide receiver Cody Cook, who then threw down the sideline. The sometimes-quarterback’s pass was picked.
Also Thursday, No.24-ranked Mississippi State took a rain-soaked 31-13 victory over Missouri.
Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and Mississippi State got 100-yard receiving games from De’Runnya Wilson and Fred Ross.
The Bulldogs kicked it into gear after a heavy downpour stopped at halftime, turning a one-point game into a runaway with a 17-point third quarter that included two of Prescott’s TD throws.
Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) has won four in a row to stay in contention in the SEC West.
Missouri has lost four in a row for the first time in 11 years.