The Baylor Bears are facing a pivotal moment in the 2026 College Football season under the leadership of Dave Aranda. Now in his seventh year at the helm in Waco, Aranda is striving to reignite the magic of the Bears' remarkable 12-2 Sugar Bowl-winning season. However, since that high point, Baylor has struggled, with only one winning season and no bowl victories to show for it.
The pressure is mounting, especially with a challenging September lineup. The Bears kick off their season against the Auburn Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, followed by the start of Big 12 play against the Colorado Buffaloes at McLane Stadium, and a Week 5 clash in Tempe against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
New Athletic Director Doug McNamee is keenly observing these developments. As he settles into his role, McNamee is assessing the football program's trajectory, with Aranda's recent track record under scrutiny.
Despite leading Baylor to a Big 12 title in 2021, Aranda has faced three losing seasons in the last four years, placing him on one of the hottest seats in college football. Early victories against Auburn, Colorado, and Arizona State are crucial for setting a positive tone.
While a loss to Auburn might be understandable, given that the Tigers are favored by more than a touchdown, a defeat to Colorado would be a significant setback. The Buffaloes, under Deion Sanders, have seen key departures like left tackle Jordan Seaton to LSU and WR1 Omarrion Miller to ASU, leaving them potentially vulnerable. Losing to Colorado could be a blow to Baylor's program.
If the Bears find themselves 2-2 heading into the Arizona State game, a loss there could spell the end of the Aranda era. Anything worse than 2-2, especially with winnable games against Prairie View A&M and Louisiana Tech between Auburn and Colorado, might mean Aranda doesn't even make it to Tempe. The stakes are high, and the early season will be telling for Baylor's future.