This time last year, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson was mentally preparing himself for life after football. He had played in 11 games over four years across two different schools, starting just four of them. Robertson did not begin the 2024 season as the Bears’ starter either. He didn’t know if his opportunity would ever come.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
Frustrated with his situation, Robertson turned to the strong foundation of faith he had built. He put everything in God’s hands and gave up control of his football future. If his purpose at Baylor was to share the Gospel and pour into others rather than make an impact on the field, so be it.
“I had tried on my own, but I had finally got to a point where I was like, ‘God, it’s Yours,'” Robertson said on Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast in February. “‘I surrender it to You. If You want it to happen, I know it’ll happen. If You don’t, I trust it. I don’t necessarily like it because I wanted to be a football player my whole life, but I trust it.'”
View this post on Instagram
He got his chance after Baylor’s 23-12 loss at Utah in Week 2. Over the next four games, even though the Bears lost three of them, Robertson threw eight touchdown passes, ran for three more scores, and averaged 244.5 passing yards while completing 59.1% of his passes.
Then he broke out on Oct. 19, tossing five touchdown passes in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, as Baylor beat Texas Tech, 59-35. The victory was the beginning of a six-game winning streak, all in Big 12 play. Once 2-4, the Bears posted their first eight-win season since 2021 and beat West Virginia on the road for the first time in program history. They finished 8-5 following a loss to LSU in the Texas Bowl (during which Robertson prayed over an injured LSU player).
Robertson threw for 3,004 yards and 27 touchdowns with only eight interceptions in the 11 games he started. As successful as he was on the field, however, he never lost sight of his ultimate mission.
“I don’t play football for popularity or anything like that,” he said on the podcast. “I play football because it’s a platform for me to spread that positivity and be a light for other people and just be a witness for Jesus Christ.”
Attending one of the largest Christian schools in the country has helped Robertson dive deeper into his faith. He regularly attends Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings and is involved in player-led Bible studies. In May, Robertson reaffirmed his faith through baptism.
View this post on Instagram
“There’s so many people that are pouring into you at Baylor,” he said on the podcast. “And just that sense of community — being surrounded by all those people — you learn stuff from this person, from that person. They learn stuff from you. There’s just always that sense of growing in your faith.”
View this post on Instagram
The excitement surrounding the Bears this season is in no small part due to Robertson’s emergence. Baylor received 76 votes in Monday’s preseason coaches’ poll, and Robertson was recently identified by ESPN’s Matt Miller as one of the under-the-radar players with the potential to climb up NFL Draft boards.
Speaking at Big 12 Media Days last month, Robertson talked about his faith-first approach to football and why it’s so important to him.
“My whole mindset is I’m going to use the talents and the abilities that God has given me as a football player to glorify Him, to glorify Jesus as best I can, to bring attention to what Jesus did on the cross,” he said. “And then the rest of it kind of takes care of itself.”
Robertson’s journey has taught him that nothing is guaranteed. While football could be taken from him at any moment, he knows he can always trust in the Lord.
“I could play football for 20 more years,” he said at Big 12 Media Days. “This could be my last year playing football. You never know what’s going to happen. … One thing remains the same, and that’s what Jesus did 2,000 years ago on the cross.”
Baylor hosts Auburn in its season opener Aug. 29. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
RELATED STORIES:
— WHAT’S UP PODCAST: Sawyer Robertson – Baylor University Quarterback
— Coach Dave Aranda leads 10th-ranked Baylor with ‘Christian faith out front’
— SS PODCAST: All-American LB Aiden Fisher on overcoming loss, growing his faith
— SS PODCAST: Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers on trusting God’s plan, being bold for Jesus
— WHAT’S UP PODCAST: Isaiah Shirley – NC State Football Player
