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Baylor Fires Coach Dave Aranda After Loss to Kansas
· Confirmed
In Short: Baylor University fired football coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, one day after a 25-24 loss to Kansas.
Baylor University announced on Sunday that it had fired football coach Dave Aranda after a 25-24 loss to Kansas, ending a 14-game winning streak against the Jayhawks.
Aranda, who had been with the program since 2020, finished his tenure with a 40-40 record overall and a 26-32 mark in Big 12 play.
The Bears' loss to Kansas came after a 17-6 defeat to rival TCU at home the previous week, marking the first time Baylor had lost to TCU since 2015.
Baylor athletic director Doug McNamee released a statement praising Aranda's character and leadership, saying, 'Anyone who knows Dave Aranda understands what a genuine and honorable person he is and how much he deeply cares for his players, staff, and this university.'
Despite McNamee's praise, he also acknowledged the need for change, stating, 'While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program. We will forever be thankful to Dave and his family for their time here at Baylor, and we wish them well.'
Aranda's tenure included a standout 2021 season when Baylor captured the Big 12 title and won the Sugar Bowl, marking the first AP Top 5 finish in program history.
However, Aranda struggled to maintain that level of success, finishing with a losing record in the following season and falling to 3-9 two years later.
The Bears held a 21-10 lead against Kansas in the second half but were unable to hold on, with Blake Herold blocking a 45-yard field goal attempt in the final minute to secure the Jayhawks' victory.
Baylor's loss to Kansas was particularly significant as it marked the first time the Jayhawks had beaten Baylor since 2007, ending a 14-game losing streak.
The firing of Aranda comes amid a week of coaching changes in college football, with Maryland and NC State also parting ways with their head coaches.
Baylor has promoted defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman to interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Aranda's career at Baylor began with a 2-7 record in his debut season in 2020, but he quickly turned things around, leading the Bears to a 12-2 record and a Big 12 championship in 2021.
What this adds
Baylor's decision to fire Aranda after just one losing season in 2026-27 underscores the volatility and high stakes in college football coaching.
Background
Baylor University fired football coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, one day after a 25-24 loss to Kansas.
What's confirmed
- Baylor has fired coach Dave Aranda after seven seasons, the program announced on Sunday.
- "Anyone who knows Dave Aranda understands what a genuine and honorable person he is and how much he deeply cares for his players, staff and this university," Baylor athletic director Doug McNamee said in a statement.
- "He is a gifted coach and brilliant football mind whose leadership brought some of our best Baylor football memories. While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program. We will forever be thankful to Dave and his family for their time here at Baylor, and we wish them well."
- The Jayhawks earned their first win over Baylor since 2007, ending a 14-game losing skid to the Bears when Blake Herold blocked a field goal attempt in the final minute.
- Aranda's dismissal came a day after Baylor lost to Kansas 25-24 to fall to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
- FILE - Baylor head coach Dave Aranda walks on the field during a timeout during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Oct.
- But he has had just one winning since and finishes at Baylor with a 40-40 record.
What's still developing
- After showing some early promise with first-year quarterback DJ Lagway, Baylor lost a stunning 17-6 decision against rival TCU at home on Oct.
- The Roadrunners are also in the midst of their most successful season since joining The American, a 6-1 campaign.
- Over six full seasons with the program, Baylor finished with four losing records and never recorded consecutive winning seasons.
- Baylor president Linda Livingstone announced the next day that Aranda would return, citing "financial stewardship" around the "extreme volatility in college athletics."
- Baylor retained Aranda for 2026 less than 24 hours after parting ways with athletic director Mack Rhoades, the man who hired him, with president Linda Livingstone citing stability during the AD transition, protecting the roster and recruiting class, and putting money into the program rather than a buyout.
- Playing in a packed McLane Stadium, riding a 4-game win streak, the Bears hosted rival TCU and treated the crowd of 46,000-plus to a lifeless slog of a 17-6 loss to the Horned Frogs.
- Baylor began the 2026 campaign with a 17-16 loss to Auburn in Atlanta before rattling off four straight wins, but after consecutive losses to TCU at home and Kansas on the road, the Bears' administration appears to have seen enough.
- Aranda’s group blew the lead, engineered a final drive that brought it to the opposing 27-yard line, and then allowed Kansas to block its 45-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds.
- This week started with Maryland finally moving on from Mike Locksley, and after a terrible loss to Stanford, NC State did the same with Dave Doeren on Saturday.
- Each season, Aranda seemingly coached well enough to get one more chance at building a winner, but 2026-27 was always going to be a pivotal season for him.