Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III elevated the profile of Baylor football to unprecedented heights during his 2011 Heisman Trophy-winning season, but he believes the current Bears' offense is even better than the one he directed.
In 2011, Baylor averaged 45.3 points and 587 yards of total offense with Griffin at the helm. This season, the Bears are putting up a remarkable 64.7 points and 714 yards per game under redshirt junior and first-year starter Bryce Petty.
That prolific attack has carried Baylor all the way to No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll, No. 6 in the AP Poll -- its highest ranking since 1980 -- and No. 8 in the inaugural BCS standings.
But Griffin said he doesn't believe Baylor is getting enough respect nationally or even from other NFL players.
Assuming Baylor doesn't slip up at Kansas this week, the final five games of the regular season will give the Bears a chance to earn their due, playing the five teams atop the Big 12 standings, starting with a nationally televised Thursday night game against Oklahoma on Nov. 7.
Griffin took Baylor into rarefied air, but Petty and co. can go to the mountaintop with a conference championship and BCS bowl bid.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
