Baylor's Cotton Bowl Collapse Proof Bears Still Aren't Ready for the Big Stage

For the second straight year, the Baylor Bears have fallen apart in a major bowl game following Thursday's 42-41 collapse to Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, a game that saw the Bears cough up a 20-point fourth-quarter lead. 

Last year, after the Bears won their first-ever Big 12 title, they fell flat in the Fiesta Bowl against UCF, a team that was essentially a one-trick pony with Blake Bortles. That loss left lingering questions as to whether or not Baylor could handle the big stage. 

This year, Baylor did its best to prove that theory wrong. The Bears won their second Big 12 title in a vigorous campaign for a spot in the College Football Playoff that fell infamously short. But a berth into the Cotton Bowl against Big Ten superpower Michigan State seemed like a good consolation prize. 

And for three quarters on Thursday, it was. The Bears built up a 41-21 lead and were coasting. They looked like they were going to follow up TCU's dominating win over Ole Miss and make a huge statement for the Big 12. 

Instead, the old narrative held true. Baylor doesn't belong under the brightest lights that college football has to offer. The Bears aren't ready for the biggest stages. 

Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News shared the opinion that Baylor's perception will carry over. 

The collapse started with Chris Callahan's missed 46-yarder that hit the upright. 

On the ensuing Michigan State drive, Sparty drove 71 yards in just five plays, capitalized by an eight-yard pass from Connor Cook to Josiah Price for a touchdown. That pulled the Spartans to within 13 points. 

Three minutes later—the price of running uptempo for Baylor—the Spartans started a nine-play, 60-yard drive that ended more than four minutes later with a one-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Langford to get within six points.  

The Bears took over with 4:55 on the clock and earned one last chance to make that statement for themselves and for the Big 12—to prove they belonged.

After burning nearly four minutes off the clock, the Bears lined up for another Callahan field goal, this one from 43 yards out. 

But it was Michigan State that came through with a blocked field goal that it took back to the Baylor 45. It took just three completions for Cook to move his team down the field for the game-winning score.  

That score sank the hearts of the Waco community but also proved that Baylor isn't elite. The Bears didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. 

As Craig Smoak of ESPN Radio points out, Art Briles felt after the game that the whole ordeal was more than forgettable. 

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Make no mistake, the Bears will be an excellent team next year. Bryce Petty's backup, Seth Russell, saw significant time this year and should be able to keep up the pace that Robert Griffin III set a few years ago. 

Russell will also have KD Cannon, who as a freshman hauled in 58 balls for 1,030 yards and eight scores this year, to throw the ball to. Shock Linwood will return, as will Shawn Oakman on defense. 

The Bears should have their third opportunity in as many years to prove they are elite. 

But for now, Thursday's collapse showed that the Bears simply aren't.