Baylor’s fall sports calendar is starting to come alive, and the Bears have already given fans one sharp reminder that competition season is officially underway.
Soccer set the tone with a 4-1 win at No. 10 Arkansas to open the year, a result that comes with a hefty non-conference slate still ahead.
Baylor’s schedule includes four SEC opponents and two more teams that reached last year’s NCAA Tournament. The Bears are back home Sunday against Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Volleyball is lining up for another familiar run. Baylor is aiming for its 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and will play 13 matches in the Ferrell Center, along with four appearances on linear television.
Before the regular season begins, the Bears host an exhibition Sunday at 6 p.m. against defending national champion Texas A&M. North Texas visits for the home opener on September 3.
Football is not far behind. Baylor opens at Auburn before returning home September 12 at 7 p.m.
Fall camp is already in progress, with the program’s creative and communications teams providing daily coverage. Fans can follow Baylor Football on social media for highlights, interviews and behind-the-scenes looks throughout camp.
The school is also rolling out a slate of fan-focused touches for football season. That includes bringing tailgating back in-house, discounted concessions and new additions such as Touchdown Alley concerts and stroller parking. Baylor is pointing fans to its Fan Experience homepage for the full list of offerings.
For Waco residents, Baylor is also pushing the Waco Rush Pass as another way to make it easier for the local community to get involved with athletics. Fans who have not registered are being directed to the Waco Rush homepage to sign up.
Another date to circle is August 22, when Baylor will host Meet the Bears at 1 p.m. at Allison Indoor, presented by McLane Children’s. The event is aimed especially at younger fans and will give them a chance to meet the football team and collect autographs.
Baylor is also teasing a new annual event called the Baylor Showcase. The university says the series will be modeled in part on the NHL Winter Classic, which turns one regular game into a marquee outdoor event. Baylor plans to stage one men’s and one women’s event each year in a distinctive setting, with the goal of creating memorable experiences for the teams, the university, the community and the fans.
The backdrop for all of this is the wider college athletics landscape, where Washington, D.C. is weighing the Protect College Sports Act. Baylor says the bill is not perfect, but sees it as a positive and necessary step that could bring more stability to the Big 12 and the industry as a whole. The school remains hopeful the bill will pass this fall, while also saying it will be ready either way.
Baylor also wants fans to help identify the people who make game days better. The athletics department is asking supporters to send shoutouts to fanfirst@baylor.edu when staff members create a strong experience.
One recent example came from event management staff member Sarah Woodley. During a women’s basketball game last season, George Schroeder and his son, Christopher, were trying to get a picture with Bruiser.
Bruiser was pulled away for an on-court promotion, and the chance slipped by. Christopher was disappointed, but Woodley noticed what happened, made a call and got Bruiser back to their section.
George later said, “I am so grateful. I just want to commend her, and Baylor.
It's just another reason to love Baylor.”
In Other News...
Baylors Offensive Line Battle Just Put One Spot Under Pressure
Baylors offensive line enters camp with a familiar kind of uncertainty, the sort that can reshape everything from a quarterbacks comfort to the way an offense even wants to function. The Bears are bringing back only one full-time starter up front, Kaden Sieracki at right tackle, which leaves a lot of competition and a lot of sorting still to come as the staff figures out who fits where.
Austin Woods has been mixing in transfers Nate Kibble, Asher Hale, Logan Moore and Cole Rhett while looking for the right combination across the line, and the middle of that group has become especially interesting. Koltin Sieracki has taken center reps and is in position to claim the job, giving Baylor at least one clearer answer as the rest of the line continues to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors New Defense Has One Battle Fans Need To Watch Closely
Baylors new-look defense is still taking shape under Joe Klanderman, and one of the most important decisions sits right in the middle of it. The new defensive coordinator is sorting through the Star spot, a role that asks for flexibility and range, while trying to make sure the unit stays fresh over the course of a season.
Klanderman has treated the job as a true competition, with both candidates expected to see meaningful snaps as the Bears work through practice and into the fall. The picture is still developing, but the staffs willingness to rotate should keep this one from being settled by a single early impression, and it figures to remain one of the more closely watched parts of Baylors defense. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Turns Auburn Weekend Into A Bigger Baylor Family Event
Baylor is turning its season-opening trip to Atlanta into more than just a football weekend. Ahead of the Aflac Kickoff Game against Auburn on Sept. 5, Baylor Athletics announced the Sic 'Em Road Rally pregame tailgate event, giving Bears fans a central place to gather before kickoff with food, drinks, giveaways and special appearances available for those who buy tickets.
The buildup starts a day earlier, too, with a family-friendly Atlanta Fan Fest set for Sept. 4. Between the fan fest and the tailgate, Baylor is trying to make the Auburn trip feel like a full-on road celebration, a chance for alumni, families and diehards to turn an early-season game into a bigger Bears gathering far from Waco. [Read more 🡒]