1940 Baylor Bears football team

The 1940 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1940 college football season. In their 15th and final season under head coach Morley Jennings, the Bears compiled a 4–6 record (0–6 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 114 to 109.[1][2] Robert C. Nelson and Milton S. Merka were the team captains.[2]

1940 Baylor Bears football
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Record4–6 (0–6 SWC)
Head coach
CaptainRobert C. Nelson, Milton S. Merka
Home stadiumWaco Stadium
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Texas A&M $ 5 1 0 9 1 0
No. 16 SMU 5 1 0 8 1 1
Texas 4 2 0 8 2 0
Rice 4 2 0 7 3 0
TCU 2 4 0 3 7 0
Arkansas 1 5 0 4 6 0
Baylor 0 6 0 4 6 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Baylor was ranked at No. 39 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[3]

They played their home games at Waco Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28North Texas State Teachers*W 27–20[4]
October 4at Denver*W 14–716,000[5]
October 12at ArkansasL 6–12
October 19vs. VillanovaW 7–0
October 26 No. 4 Texas A&M 
  • Waco Stadium
  • Waco, TX
L 7–14
November 2at TCUL 12–14
November 9at TexasL 0–1315,000[6]
November 16Tulsa*
  • Waco Stadium
  • Waco, TX
W 20–64,000[7]
November 23 No. 18 SMU
  • Waco Stadium
  • Waco, TX
L 4–7
November 30at RiceL 12–21
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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  1. ^ "1940 Baylor Bears Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "2018 Baylor Football Media Almanac" (PDF). Baylor University. p. 109. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Baylor wins". The Shreveport Times. September 29, 1940. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Witt Stars as Baylor Trims Denver U., 14-7". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 6, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Pete Layden lands Texas to 13–0 victory over Baylor". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 10, 1940. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Oscar Larnce (November 17, 1940). "Baylor's Cripples Got Well; Ask Tulsa Lads Who Lost 20-6". Waco Sunday Tribune-Herald. pp. 9, 10 – via Newspapers.com.