Bears 49, Bruins 26

Baylor manhandles UCLA in decisive Holiday Bowl victory

Quarterback Nick Florence broke Robert Griffin III's record for single-seasonpassing yards in the first half of the Holiday Bowl.
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Tevin Reese gives Bruiser, the Baylor Mascot, some love after scoring atouchdown.
Baylor University
Baylor showed its resiliency with an eight-win season, despite losing RobertGriffin III.
Baylor University
Head coach Art Briles has led Baylor to two consecutive bowl game victories.
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In seasons past, knocking off a top-ranked opponent like Kansas State would have been the only trick Baylor had up its sleeve. But a new dawn is rising on the Brazos River.

Baylor manhandled No. 17 UCLA for four quarters in San Diego, building a strong 21-0 lead in the first half and scarcely giving up an inch of it en route to a 49-26 victory. The Bears, not the Bruins, looked like the ranked opponent, as they executed exciting scoring drives and came up with devastating defensive stops.

This didn’t look like the same Baylor team that started conference play 0-4. The team that could score 63 points yet give up 70. No, this resembled an entirely different roster. So much so that a rumor circulated on Twitter that Baylor president Ken Starr (yes, that Ken Starr) used early spring tuition payments to buy a new defense.

This game was about Baylor establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with for the long haul.

One way or another, the Bears managed to sack UCLA’s mobile quarterback Brett Hundley six times. Baylor had only 13 sacks for the entire season heading into the Holiday Bowl. The Bruins finished with a measly 33 yards on the ground; they came into San Diego averaging 202 rushing yards per game.

Baylor quarterback Nick Florence had a red-letter night, completing 10 of 13 passes for 188 yards. He also broke Robert Griffin III’s record for single-season passing yards (4,309 to Griffin’s 4,293).

You remember, RGIII, right? The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner. The No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, and a 2012 Pro-Bowl selection. Florence surpassed him in the first half.

But the game wasn’t about Florence, or other standouts such as running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin or wide receiver Tevin Reese. This game was about Baylor establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with for the long haul.

It’s the nature of college football that players come and go, and no matter how good RGIII was, he’s not the face of Baylor football anymore. Nick Florence, already a senior, isn’t either.

But Baylor needn’t worry about finding an RGIV or a NFII. Under the leadership of head coach Art Briles, the Bears have matured into a resilient program that can take the loss of a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and turn it into new records and stunning victories.

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Cowboys News

Post Malone will do halftime show at Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game

Photo by Adam DeGross

Post Malone will play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on May 9, 2025.

Global superstar Post Malone will perform the halftime show during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day 2025 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to a release, the live performance will air on CBS on November 27 at 3:30 pm and marks the launch of The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, putting a national spotlight on the needs of millions during the holiday season and all year long.

When he was young, Malone's family moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex after his father, Rich Post, took a job with the Dallas Cowboys as the assistant director of food and beverage at AT&T Stadium; he's remained close with the Gene and Jerry Jones family and the Cowboys organization.

In a statement, Malone calls it an honor.

"I'm from Texas. I grew up a Cowboys fan and have been watching this halftime show for years," said Post Malone. "It's a real honor to be part of the Red Kettle Kickoff with The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys and help bring hope to so many people."

The Salvation Army operates more than 7,400 centers across the country providing food, housing, and other services year-round.

Malone has become a buzzy name at high-profile Dallas events, most recently performing at the 2025 Cattle Baron's Ball.

In addition, he's collaborated with the Dallas Cowboys on projects such as a Raising Cane's location at 2255 W. Northwest Hwy. that underwent a Post Malone-Dallas Cowboys makeover. In 2023, he collaborated with the Dallas Cowboys on a limited-edition collection of Post Malone x Dallas Cowboys merchandise featuring T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and shorts.

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