Suspend the strength-of-schedule argument for a moment. Heading into Week 8 against Iowa State, Baylor had the look of a playoff-caliber team. Though the 45-27 win over the Cyclones was the sleepiest the Bears have looked all year, it did little to change Baylor's place in the national landscape.
Moving forward could be a different discussion entirely. Quarterback Seth Russell left Saturday's game in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. Later, Baylor confirmed Russell sustained a fracture in one of the bones in his neck. The redshirt junior will see a specialist this week, and his timetable for return is "unknown.