WACO, Texas -- It took Baylor until the third quarter, but the 23rd-ranked Bears eventually imposed their will on SMU.

Baylor shrugged off an early six-point deficit and gained control in the second half to defeat the Mustangs 40-13 on Saturday at McLane Stadium.

Bears quarterback Seth Russell wasn't sharp as he completed 26 of 47 passes for 261 yards with two interceptions. But he threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Blake Lynch and ran 19 yards for a score in the third quarter to help Baylor (2-0) gain momentum.

Then Bears safety Orion Stewart returned an interception 33 yards to put Baylor ahead 26-6 and effectively squash SMU's hope for an upset.

SMU freshman quarterback Ben Hicks, who played high school football just 10 miles away from Baylor at Hewitt Midway, made his first collegiate start in place of injured starter Matt Davis. Hicks passed for 229 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions, including two to fellow Midway alum Stewart.

Russell added a fourth-quarter 32-yard touchdown pass to KD Cannon to give Baylor a 20-point edge. But the Bears quarterback was later stopped on a fourth-down rushing attempt from the SMU 3 that ended a Bears scoring drive.

SMU slipped to 1-1, while the Bears still left room for doubt whether they can keep their top 25 status through the rigors of Big 12 play.

Hicks looked sharp at the beginning. He guided two first-quarter drives inside the Bears' 10 as the Mustangs posted a pair of field goals to take a 6-0 lead.

However, SMU's failure to score touchdowns became a theme.

Near the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, Hicks appeared to hit wide receiver James Proche in stride behind the Baylor defense at midfield. But Proche dropped the pass and SMU had to punt.

On Baylor's ensuing possession, Mustangs cornerback Jordan Wyatt intercepted Russell's pass and returned it to the Baylor 12.

But Hicks Stewart took the ball back for Baylor. The Bears safety grabbed an interception in the end zone to stop the Mustangs from adding to their lead.

Baylor's usually prolific offense managed to tie the game with a couple of field-goal drives, but nothing more in the first half as the two teams went to the locker room tied at six.

SMU outgained the Bears 239-194 in the first half. But turnovers marred the first and second quarters for both teams as the Mustangs and Bears each gave up the ball twice.

NOTES: Baylor extended its 13-game winning streak against SMU and the Bears took a 39-36-7 lead in the all-time series between the two programs. SMU last defeated Baylor in 1986 in Waco when both schools were members of the Southwest Conference. ... SMU played six teams ranked in the top 25 in 2015. Baylor was the Mustangs' first ranked opponent this season. SMU has two more games against foes currently ranked in the top 25, next week versus TCU and against Houston on Oct. 22. ... Baylor, which entered the game at No. 23 in the AP Poll, has been ranked in a school-record 50 straight AP Polls.