EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDave Aranda wasn't a typical head coach: introspective, introverted, cerebral, brilliant in ways. Baylor seemed to have really found something in hiring the first-time head coach from LSU's 2019 national championship-winning staff.In 2021, he led the Bears to a Big 12 championship, their third in nine seasons, and the school's first Sugar Bowl championship since 1957. Baylor finished No. 5 nationally that fall. Aranda, somewhat of an accidental head coach, suddenly found himself near the top of the sport.But Baylor never recaptured its 2021 form under Aranda. The Bears went 6-7 in 2022 and 3-9 the following year. Aranda stabilized things with an 8-5 mark in 2024, but entered last season under pressure and might have been let go if athletic director Mack Rhoades didn't step down in late November.Needing to deliver a strong encore, Aranda had Baylor at 4-1 after a 55-19 thrashing of Arizona State on the road. But then the Bears returned home and let down an electric crowd in a 17-6 loss to TCU. A day after the team's second straight defeat, a last-second loss at Kansas, Baylor fired Aranda, who finished his tenure there at 40-39.Athletic director Doug McNamee, who took over his role last December, embarks upon his first major coaching search. McNamee is a Baylor alum but spent most of his career outside of athletics, so he should be open to different types of candidates.Baylor's investment in football wavered at times during Aranda's tenure, and will be an interesting storyline with its next coach. The school has some well-heeled donors and has won or competed for conference championships with each of its last three permanent coaches. A location between the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Austin gives Baylor more than enough access to talent.Worth noting: Baylor could have some candidate crossover with rival TCU if the school chooses to cut ties with coach Sonny Dykes. Here's an early look at who Baylor could consider to replace Aranda, as well as the retention situation for the roster and recruiting. -- Adam RittenbergJump to:Top candidates | Personnel prioritiesKey recruitsFive candidates for the jobUTSA coach Jeff Traylor: The 58-year-old has been on these lists before and arguably should already be leading a Power 4 program in the state. Traylor's roots in Texas run especially deep, as a state title-winning high school coach who has built a strong college profile at UTSA, going 58-27 in six-plus seasons. After a 32-9 run from 2021 to 2023, Traylor's performance dipped a bit the past two seasons, but the Roadrunners are 7-1 this fall and leading the American.USC coach Lincoln Riley: His future at USC is murky at best, and a return to his home state and a league where he had historic success could be a smart exit strategy. Riley wouldn't have the same resources he enjoys at USC, but if he can secure financial buy-in from Baylor, he could soon position the Bears as Big 12/CFP contenders. The 43-year-old's track record with offenses and quarterbacks could give Baylor the vision it has lacked at times under Aranda. Riley won four consecutive Big 12 titles at Oklahoma from 2017 to 2020 and went 37-7 in league games during his time there.Nebraska coach Matt Rhule: A Baylor return for Rhule might have benefits for both sides. Rhule revived the program in his first stint, going from 11 losses to 11 wins in just three seasons, and reaching the Big 12 title game and the Sugar Bowl before finishing No. 13. Despite no previous ties to Texas, Rhule thrived in the environment and would understand what he's entering. So, why would he leave Nebraska, especially after receiving a contract extension just last year? He hasn't had a real breakthrough season, as the Huskers continue to lose against ranked opponents. Nebraska is still trying to find the right mix of alignment and resources. Rhule, 51, would be able to reset at Baylor in a league where he could more easily compete. He would owe Nebraska $7.5 million if he left for another job before Jan. 1.Boise State coach Spencer Danielson: Danielson has certainly done enough to make a move to a Power 4 role, leading Boise State to three straight conference titles and a CFP berth in 2024, when the Broncos finished No. 8 nationally. Danielson could be headed back to the playoff this season, as Boise State is off to a 6-1 start with a narrow defeat at Oregon. The question with Danielson, 37, is how he would fit in a different region after spending almost his entire career at Boise State. The California native is 30-9 overall as an FBS coach.Texas State coach GJ Kinne: In Kinne, Baylor would get a young coach (37) with an offensive background and connections to the program, primarily through his father, Gary Joe, a Baylor linebacker and later an assistant coach. GJ was a standout quarterback at Tulsa and bounced around the pro ranks before a rapid rise in coaching, which included a 12-2 mark and No. 3 FCS finish in his lone season with Incarnate Word. Kinne's results at Texas State haven't been overwhelming (he's 13-13 in league games), but he has three bowl wins and victories against Baylor and UTSA. -- RittenbergFour key players to retainQB DJ Lagway: The Bears made a big investment in Lagway this offseason, believing they could turn the former five-star recruit's career around by bringing him home. The touted Florida transfer nearly led a last-second victory over Auburn in the opener, missed the next two games due to injury and has had mixed results in Big 12 play since returning, ranking 11th in the conference in QBR. He did flash his big-time potential with 306 passing yards and four TDs in a 55-19 rout at Arizona State. Will the next coaching staff prioritize Lagway and believe in that upside? Or will they let him walk, as Jon Sumrall did at Florida, and bring in their own QB? How Lagway finishes out these final five games will probably have a big say in determining his next move, but he does have two more years of eligibility left after this season.S Micah Gifford: The 6-foot-3, 205-pound converted receiver has been an impact performer on special teams throughout his career and keeps making big plays for the Bears' defense this season. Gifford has picked off three passes, forced two fumbles and has been their second-leading tackler with 37 stops through seven games. Thanks to recent NCAA eligibility reform, Gifford can come back for a fifth year in 2027.DB Daniel Cobbs: Cobbs followed his defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman from Kansas State to Baylor this offseason and has played at a high level in his first season as a full-time starter. The 5-foot-11, 199-pound senior brings versatility with his ability to line up at corner, safety or nickel and has 23 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks and 3 pass breakups on the year. Cobbs and fellow K-State transfer Ryan Davis both have one year left and should have good options elsewhere if Klanderman isn't retained.WR Jadon Porter: Gavin Freeman and Louis Brown IV have dominated the target share for the Bears this season as Lagway's go-to receivers, but both are out of eligibility after this season. Porter has missed two games due to injury but has turned 12 catches into 199 yards and two TDs. The 6-1, 192-pound junior has flashed potential and has two more years of eligibility, as does Colorado transfer Dre'lon Miller. -- Max OlsonThree must-keep recruitsQB Luke Babin, No. 19 pocket passer: The former Vanderbilt pledge has been the top-ranked member of the Bears' 2027 class since late March. A creative, 6-3 playmaker who threw for 3,063 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior, Babin has the look of a future Big 12 starting quarterback. Indeed, conference foes Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech were all involved in Babin's process in the spring. Each currently holds at least one quarterback pledge in the cycle, but in the midst of a productive senior campaign at Texas' Barbers Hill High School, Babin could be an intriguing late-cycle add for the right program.ATH Karece Hoyt, No. 17 athlete: One of the longest-tenured members of the Bears' class, Hoyt is an eye-catching two-way star at Texas' Lone Star Frisco High School, where the 6-2 playmaker accounted for 5,757 all-purpose yards and 79 total touchdowns across his sophomore and junior campaigns. Part of what makes Hoyt an especially interesting prospect -- and late-cycle potential flip candidate -- is that there's no consensus on where the versatile playmaker should play at the next level. Some programs view Hoyt as an offensive Swiss Army knife; others see a positionally flexible, hybrid defensive back. Hoyt entertained spring interest from Arkansas and Texas Tech and held previous interest from the likes of Miami, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas A&M.OG Chase Allen, No. 54 offensive guard: With the potential exception of four-star offensive tackle signee Donel Robinson Jr. in 2026, Aranda's staff failed to recruit quality offensive line depth and future production over the past few cycles. Allen isn't going to solve those problems alone, by any means. But as one of two offensive line prospects committed to Baylor's incoming class, the 6-2, 290-pound interior lineman from Cypress, Texas, is an important piece. Mississippi State, Oregon State and Rutgers were also in the mix before he committed to the Bears earlier this year. -- Eli Lederman
