Dave Aranda on coaching hot seat going into 7th season at Baylor with new QB and new DC

2025 Record: 5-7

Baylor coach Dave Aranda likely can’t survive another losing season. If not for the unexpected resignation of the school’s athletic director late last season, Aranda might not have been back with the Bears for this one.

They are going into Aranda’s seventh season with a new quarterback (Florida transfer and Texas native DJ Lagway), a lot of new receivers and a new defensive coordinator (Joe Klanderman from Kansas State).

Aranda has a 36-37 record after going 5-7 last season, when the Bears lost five of their last six games and finished with a three-game losing streak. The last two losses came after AD Mack Rhoades resigned for personal reasons and school president Linda Livingstone said Aranda would stay for 2026.

Baylor is 22-28 since a school-record 12 wins with a Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss in 2021, Aranda’s second season. The only winning record since was 8-5 in 2024, when the Bears won their last six regular-season games amid questions even then about the coach’s future.

Aranda was coming off an undefeated national championship season as LSU's defensive coordinator when he got the Baylor job. The Bears last season allowed 32.6 points a game, while they scored 31.1 and had a Power Four high 24 turnovers. Aranda is giving defensive play-calling duties to Klanderman.

Even after leading rusher Bryson Washington transferred to Auburn, which is Baylor’s season-opening opponent in Atlanta on Sept. 5, the Bears have a deep and talented group of running backs.

Caden Knighten ran for 469 yards last season and his 11 catches for 134 yards lead all returning players. Dawson Pendergrass is back after missing all last season with a foot injury. As a true freshman in 2023, Pendergrass ran for 338 yards with five TDs, and in a two-man rotation with 1,000-yard rusher Washington in 2024 had 671 yards with six TDs. Michael Turner as a true freshman last year ran for 320 yards in eight games.

The Bears’ up-tempo spread offense lost more than graduated quarterback Sawyer Robertson after his 61 touchdown passes in 30 games and consecutive 3,000-yard seasons. The top five receivers from last year are also gone.

There are six new receivers on the roster, including transfers Dre’lon Miller (from Colorado) and Gavin Freeman (from Oklahoma State). Jadon Porter’s nine catches for 85 yards last season were the most for the returners.

Lagway started 19 of his 24 games at Florida the past two seasons, throwing for 4,179 yards, 28 TDs and 23 interceptions before transferring to his father’s alma mater.

Lagway (transfer from Florida), Miller (transfer from Colorado), DE/LB Ryan Davis (transfer from Kansas State), OL Logan Moore (transfer from UAB), DL Hosea Wheeler (transfer from Indiana).

WR Josh Cameron, QB Sawyer Robertson, LB Keaton Thomas (transferred to Ole Miss), Washington (transferred to Auburn), PK Connor Hawkins (transferred to Ohio State).

vs. Auburn in Atlanta (Sept. 5), vs. TCU (Oct. 17), vs. No. 12 Texas Tech (Nov. 21).

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FILE - Baylor running back Caden Knighten runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Baylor and Auburn Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, file)

FILE - Baylor head coach Dave Aranda stands with players during a timeout during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson, file)

2025 record: 8-4

Matt Campbell’s departure for Penn State ignited a mass exodus of players and new coach Jimmy Rogers had to bring in 47 transfers. Rogers, who went 6-6 in his one season at Washington State, knows that this season is going to have plenty of challenges.

“I’ve said it before, they are going to have to suffer through hard times to become the team that they want to be,” Rogers said.

Rogers, who probably overachieved with 75 newcomers at WSU in 2025, sent a message in an On3.com Big 12 coaches' survey when he picked the Cyclones to make the conference championship game. That would seem a big stretch for a program that basically is starting over after a largely successful 10-year run under Campbell.

The Cyclones have a veteran quarterback, which is a good place to start when building a roster from nearly scratch. Jaylen Raynor made 36 starts in three seasons at Arkansas State. He threw for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns and led the Red Wolves to a bowl last season. He’ll have some good receiving targets, including a fellow Arkansas State transfer in tight end Tyler Fortenberry.

Kicker Kyle Konrardy was one of the Cyclones who stayed. He went 14 for 18 on field goals and 19 for 21 on extra points but missed three games because of injury. He is 10th in program history with 170 points.

Raynor was one of the most sacked quarterback in the country last season, taking 31, according to Pro Football Focus. He probably will spend a lot of time on the run after the Cyclones lost most of their experienced offensive linemen. Jake Taylor, a tackle who transferred from Oklahoma, is one of the older players. He started four games in 2024 but didn't play at all last season.

The linebackers are unproven against Power Four competition except for Carson Willich, who was a regular in the rotation the last two years.

Depth everywhere will be a concern.

DE Isaac Terrell came with Rogers from Washington State after a season in which he had 12 tackles for loss. Terrell will have to be an anchor on the defensive line.

RB Cameron Pettaway, a transfer from Bowling Green, was the MAC freshman of the year after leading the nation in kick return average.

LB Sullivan Schlimgen also came with Rogers. He started the last five games as a freshman and had 49 tackles.

QB Rocco Becht followed Campbell to Penn State. Becht threw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

RB Abu Sama III transferred to Wisconsin. Sama rushed for 732 yards and five touchdowns last season.

CB Jontez Williams transferred to USC. Williams was injured after playing in five games and finished with 15 tackles and two pass breakups.

At Iowa (Sept. 12), vs. Utah (Sept. 26), at BYU (Oct. 9).

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FILE - Washington State head coach Jimmy Rogers reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against James Madison, Nov. 22, 2025, in Harrisonburg, Va. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly, File)