Baylor’s 2024 season had the feel of a team searching for itself. This fall, the Bears sound like a group that’s already found a much clearer answer.
The difference starts with the mood around camp. After a year marked by growing pains and frustration, Baylor enters this season with a sharper edge and a stronger sense of urgency. The transfer portal has brought in some notable pieces, and the message from the players is plain: nobody wants a repeat of what happened last year.
A big part of that shift points to one man, DJ Lagway. Since his breaking-news arrival from Florida, he has helped set the tone in camp.
Baylor’s trust in him isn’t just about talent, either. His teammates have taken to his work ethic and the way he carries himself.
Lagway has been building timing with his receivers throughout camp, and the upgraded offensive line has given the offense a different kind of confidence. The group around him appears fully invested, something the source material notes he didn’t feel at Florida.
That belief has shown up in the praise from inside the program. Five-year Senior Safety Michael Allen said, "DJ [Lagway] is a guy that continues to flash, whether it be off-plays and him running around or just making great throws; I thought he did a great job."
Dave Aranda also pointed to the confidence Lagway brings. "He's more confident.
He trusts the guys that he's got. He and Spav can finish each other's sentences when they're talking about what they're seeing and where they're going next...
The progress has been pretty strong."
Even with Lagway and the offensive additions drawing most of the attention, Baylor’s defense may end up deciding how far this season goes. Last year made one thing obvious: in the Big 12, a productive offense alone won’t save you if the other side keeps scoring.
That was the Bears’ reality for much of the season. No matter what they did on offense, it often wasn’t enough to turn those games into wins.
Joe Klanderman now gets the task of giving that side of the ball a new identity. He’s brought in several players from his previous team, along with experienced additions from major programs, in an effort to firm up the unit and give Baylor a better foundation this fall.
In Other News...
Baylor Just Got Encouraging News About A Major Roster Concern
Baylors biggest offensive concern entering the season has been up front, where the Bears are replacing four starters and asking several transfers to mesh quickly under new offensive line coach Austin Woods. Even with that much turnover, there is at least some encouraging outside perspective on the group, and it matters for a team trying to stabilize one of the most important parts of the offense before the games start counting.
In an On3 piece by Brian Jones, Baylor landed 45th nationally in Steeles top 69 offensive line rooms in college football, a spot that suggests the unit may be ahead of where many expected. It also puts the Bears in better company than several conference opponents, including Alabama, which gives Baylor reason to believe the line can be more of a strength than a liability if the new pieces come together quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Rookies Are Already Feeling The NFL Roster Crunch
The Baylor pipeline to the NFL got off to a promising start this summer, with two Bears hearing their names called in the 2026 draft and a handful more landing opportunities as undrafted free agents. Defensive lineman Jackie Marshall went to the Tennessee Titans, while wide receiver Josh Cameron joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving Baylor fans reason to keep one eye on preseason box scores and another on roster moves across the league.
Cameron has already shown up in preseason action for Jacksonville, while Marshalls early impact in Tennessee has been more limited, and the broader picture is even more crowded for the other Baylor newcomers trying to stick. Several more former Bears signed with different teams, but their preseason participation and roster standing have varied, which is exactly the kind of early August squeeze that can turn a draft-night celebration into a week-to-week fight for survival. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Brings Back A Program Icon For A Huge 2026 Stage
Baylor is leaning into one of the biggest early moments of its 2026 season by bringing back a familiar face for the Aflac Kickoff Game. Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy winner who helped define a memorable era for the Bears, will serve as the programs honorary captain when Baylor opens against Auburn at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 5.
Griffin will take part in the pregame coin toss alongside Cam Newton, Auburns honorary captain, in an event that also ties into the Kickoff for a Cause initiative supporting childhood cancer research. For Baylor, it adds a little extra weight and visibility to a high-profile neutral-site stage, with one of the schools most recognizable players helping set the tone before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]