Baylor University dismissed head football coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, October 25, becoming the third Power 4 program to make a coaching change in the 2026 college football carousel. Aranda, a celebrated defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU, had led the Bears since the 2020 season. He guided Baylor to a 12-2 record, a Sugar Bowl victory, and a top-5 AP Poll finish in 2021, but the program posted sub-.500 records overall and in Big 12 play for the remainder of his tenure.
Interim head coach and first-year defensive coordinator Jon Klanderman debuted with a 41-9 win over UCF in Week 9. As the search for a permanent replacement begins, Baylor insiders have identified several candidates. Among them is UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, who holds a 58-27 overall record since taking over in 2020, including a 37-12 conference mark across Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners are off to a 5-1 start this season, boosting Traylor's profile. Analysts note his strong Texas ties and ability to win with multiple quarterbacks and coaching staffs.
Additional candidates, including a sitting head coach with multiple College Football Playoff appearances, have been reported by Baylor-focused outlet Bears Illustrated. The university has not officially commented on the list of potential hires.
