Dave Aranda’s hold on the Baylor job comes with a contract that runs through the 2029 season, but the conversation around his future hasn’t exactly gone quiet. Baylor opened 3-1 and was a few inches from entering Week 5 unbeaten, yet the stretch ahead is the kind that can decide everything. Arizona State is next, followed by four games Baylor should have a real shot to win, then BYU, Texas Tech and Houston to close things out.
That means Aranda still has plenty of runway to steady things. It also means the pressure is real. If Baylor doesn’t take care of business with DJ Lagway at quarterback and a reworked defense, the questions about Aranda’s long-term fit in Waco are only going to get louder.
One name that has already surfaced in that kind of scenario is USC coach Lincoln Riley.
Riley’s situation in Los Angeles has become its own soap opera. He carries a buyout of roughly $70 million, and frustration is building among USC fans and boosters.
Since arriving, he has produced only one 10-plus win season, the Trojans still haven’t reached the College Football Playoff, and this was supposed to be the year that changed. Instead, USC just took a 41-27 loss at home to Oregon.
The same old problems are still hanging around. USC hasn’t been able to get past the better teams, and the defense continues to be a problem.
That’s why Riley came up in a discussion with Blake Toppmeyer, Paul Myerberg and Matt Hayes, who pointed to Baylor as the school that might make the most sense if the USC situation ever broke wide open.
"If I’m Riley, I’m not walking away from a $70 million buyout. If USC wants him gone, then pay up.
If I’m Riley, I say, “If you want to fire me, that’s fine. I’ll take the buyout.”
Then, I’d go to Baylor. Riley would solve a problem for Baylor, and it would get Riley back to the Big 12," Hayes said.
"Riley makes a lot of sense for Baylor. He’s from Texas, played under Mike Leach at Texas Tech, and had Big 12 coaching success at Oklahoma. But, if I'm Riley, I'm not going to Baylor without first making USC cut the buyout check."
The fit is easy enough to understand. Riley played quarterback at Texas Tech, built his reputation as an offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, then moved up to head coach there before taking over at USC. His offenses have been elite wherever he’s gone, with Oklahoma and USC consistently near the top of the national stat sheets.
The issue has never been scoring points. It’s been what happens when the other team has the ball.
From Baylor’s perspective, there’s another part of the equation that would make the idea intriguing: recruiting. Riley has been one of the best recruiters in the country, and USC just signed the No. 1 class in the 2026 cycle. Any move like that would require donors and boosters to buy in, but the upside is obvious.
For now, though, it’s just a thought. Aranda still has a chance to quiet everything with a strong run over the next few weeks.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Turned Baylor's QB Problem Into A Bigger Big 12 Story
Colorados quarterback situation took another turn during its game against Baylor, when Julian Lewis lost the starting job after two difficult performances and was replaced by Isaac Wilson in the middle of the matchup. Even with the change, Deion Sanders made a point of saying Lewis is still in the mix to reclaim the role, a reminder that the Buffaloes are treating this as a live competition rather than a permanent handoff.
For Baylor, it adds another layer to a Big 12 race already full of moving parts, because Colorado now has to settle on a starter before next weeks game against Texas Tech. Wilson is in the conversation, Lewis is still there, and Kaneal Sweetwyne gives Sanders another option, which means the Buffaloes are suddenly trying to sort out their most important position while the conference schedule keeps rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Gets A Needed Secondary Boost Ahead Of Arizona State
Baylors secondary got a timely lift this week as senior defensive back Micah Gifford is expected to be available for the matchup against Arizona State. Gifford left the Week 4 game against Colorado with a leg injury, but teammate Bo Onu said he should play, a welcome development for a defense that has been juggling injuries and recent returns in the back end.
Gifford had been off to a strong start before leaving that Colorado game, and his presence matters even more now with Baylor trying to steady a secondary that has had to piece things together. Against an Arizona State team that can test coverage in a hurry, getting an experienced defensive back back on the field gives the Bears a better chance to settle in and avoid another week of improvising on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Brings A Tougher Test Than Baylor May Expect
Baylor heads to Tempe for its first road game in nearly a month, and the trip arrives with more questions than the schedule might suggest. The Bears have spent the last stretch at home while trying to settle in offensively, and the matchup with Arizona State comes at a time when every detail around execution matters. ASU has had extra time to prepare after its bye week, following a London trip, which only adds to the sense that this is not the kind of away test Baylor can treat lightly.
The betting lines suggest a competitive game, but the broader concern for Baylor is whether its offense can find enough rhythm to handle a more demanding environment. Player health is part of the conversation too, with DJ Lagways condition drawing attention as the Bears sort through what they can trust from week to week. Arizona State may not get the same national buzz as some opponents, but the setup points to a tighter, more revealing matchup than Baylor might have expected when the game was first circled. [Read more 🡒]