Just a couple of weeks ago, the Bears were clearly undervalued in the coaches poll, getting ranked at tenth in the conference. The Big 12 released its preseason media poll rankings, and Baylor is ranked in seventh place in the 16-team conference, ranking behind Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Tech, Iowa State and BYU.
After consecutive upset losses to TCU and Kansas, the Bears played with a different level of confidence and intensity on both sides of the ball. The offense produced 503 yards, while the defense recorded seven sacks and kept the Knights out of the end zone.
Baylor wasn't supposed to be 5-3 right now, though I suppose that all depends on who you ask. Then again, depending on who you ask, the Bears were supposed to have Dave Aranda as their head coach throughout the entirety of the season as well.
In a game that was just what Baylor needed to shock themselves back into Big 12 contention after dropping the last two games to TCU and Kansas and subsequently firing Dave Aranda, the Bears showed up in Orlando, Florida, and crushed UCF 41-9.
After struggling offensively against TCU and Kansas, the Bears finally gave their defense some support. DJ Lagway threw four touchdowns, Baylor piled up 503 yards of offense and several previously quiet receivers stepped up against a UCF team coming off an upset of No.
Safety Jacob Redding, cornerback Jamarion Richardson, defensive lineman Devonte Tezino, offensive lineman Cayden Tone and wide receiver Ashton Jones have all been ruled out for the Bears’ first game under interim head coach Joe Klanderman.
The Bears struggled to find success on the ground against Kansas, finishing with just 75 rushing yards from their running backs. Baylor will need to make some adjustments against UCF, and I expect to see a few different play calls on offense.
This was to be expected. Unfortunate, but expected. Dave Aranda being let go from his head coaching duties was bound to see some blowback in recruiting for next season.
Dave Aranda is a class act, and while by the end of his time with the Baylor Bears he was not considered a good coach, nobody can besmirch Aranda's character.
Dave Aranda has been fired, and Joe Klanderman will have to find a way to keep the team motivated and focused on finishing the season strong. The Bears will face a big test this Friday as they travel to Orlando to take on UCF.
While Joe Klanderman will be tasked with guiding Baylor (4-3) toward bowl eligibility, he must also preserve a roster that could undergo significant changes this offseason.
Scott Drew and Baylor were searching for good news on Wednesday as five-star center Lewis Uvwo had his commitment set. Instead of picking Baylor, the center chose Providence.
Joe Klanderman had quite a bit to say during his first media availability on Monday. Speaking and taking answers for a half-hour, Klanderman provided more information than we could hope to cover in a single article.
Wednesday is the day that Baylor finds out if it lands another prolific five-star prospect. Since 2021, Scott Drew has signed one five-star in every class, with Dylan Mingo being the latest to do so in the 2026 cycle.
Scott Drew knows a thing or two about landing five-star prospects. Since 2021, Drew has signed one five-star in each class up to 2026 at Baylor. Dylan Mingo flipping from North Carolina to the Bears was the most recent five-star to end up in Waco.
The UTSA Roadrunners are going to do everything they can to keep head coach Jeff Traylor in San Antonio.
With head coach Dave Aranda being fired on Sunday morning, Baylor players will have plenty to think about in the coming weeks as they wait until their transfer portal window opens.
Baylor's 25-24 loss at Kansas has sent the Bears further down the national rankings, capping a difficult weekend that also saw the dismissal of head coach Dave Aranda.
Baylor interim coach Joe Klanderman hopes to provide a "jolt of energy" that he believes is desperately needed for the Bears as he takes over for the fired Dave Aranda.
Baylor football was in the headlines over the weekend when it made the decision to fire head coach Dave Aranda after nearly seven seasons as head coach.
The Baylor football landscape changed on Sunday. After a loss to Kansas on Saturday, Athletic Director Doug McNamee opted to make a change at head coach.
Aranda finishes with a disappointing 40-40 record during his seven seasons at Baylor.
Baylor fell just short in its season opener, but the way the Bears fought back against Auburn on Saturday should give Big 12 opponents plenty to worry about.
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
Free Newsletters