Baylor Dismisses Dave Aranda After Kansas Rout

WHO:

CBS Sports - Baylor athletic director Doug McNamee said in a statement that Dave Aranda was “a genuine and honorable person” who deeply cared for his players, staff and the university, and described him as a gifted coach and brilliant football mind.

CBS Sports - Jeff Traylor, Spencer Danielson, G.J. Kinne, Jason Eck and Lincoln Riley were listed as possible candidates to replace Aranda.

Newsweek - Joe Klanderman is Baylor’s interim coach.

Pro Football Network - Baylor fired head coach Dave Aranda.

Pro Football Network - Robert Griffin III and people in the college football world reacted to Aranda’s firing.

NY Post - Dave Aranda was Baylor’s football coach.

IJR - Dave Aranda had coached Baylor for seven seasons and had a 40-40 record.

WHAT:

CBS Sports - Aranda finished with a 26-32 record in Big 12 play. Baylor won the 2021 Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl, earning its first AP Top 5 finish; over six full seasons, the team had four losing records and no consecutive winning seasons.

CBS Sports - Aranda had six coordinators and at one point took over defensive playcalling himself.

CBS Sports - Baylor lost 17-6 to TCU at home before its loss to Kansas.

Newsweek - Baylor blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead to Kansas.

CBS Sports - Jeff Traylor’s UTSA team was 6-1; G.J. Kinne’s Texas State team was 4-3; Spencer Danielson had won a conference title each year since taking over as Boise State’s interim coach in 2023.

Newsweek - Klanderman inherited a schedule featuring BYU and Texas Tech.

Pro Football Network - Baylor fired Aranda after a blocked kick sealed a loss to Kansas; reactions ranged from calls that the decision was “overdue” and “100% needed to happen” to warm words for Aranda.

NY Post - A blocked kick was described as Baylor’s last regret for Aranda.

IJR - Baylor lost to Kansas, 25-24, and fell to 4-3.

WHERE:

Pro Football Network - Baylor’s loss came at Kansas.

NY Post - Baylor’s football program fired Aranda after the loss to Kansas.

IJR - Baylor lost to Kansas.

WHEN:

Pro Football Network - Baylor fired Aranda the morning after its loss to Kansas.

IJR - Baylor fired Aranda on Oct. 25, 2026.

WHY:

Newsweek - Baylor’s loss to Kansas preceded Klanderman taking over as interim coach.

Pro Football Network - The firing followed Baylor’s loss to Kansas, which was sealed by a blocked kick.

NY Post - The blocked kick was identified as the final regret associated with Aranda’s tenure at Baylor.

IJR - Baylor fired Aranda after the 25-24 loss to Kansas that left the Bears with a 4-3 record.

HOW:

Pro Football Network - A blocked kick sealed Baylor’s loss to Kansas.

IJR - The blocked field goal sealed Kansas’s 25-24 win over Baylor.

Baylor has fired football coach Dave Aranda after a blocked kick sealed a 25-24 loss to Kansas, leaving the Bears with a 4-3 record. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will serve as interim coach, taking over a schedule that includes BYU and Texas Tech. Athletic director Doug McNamee praised Aranda as an honorable person who cared deeply for his players, staff and the university, and called him a gifted coach. Aranda leaves after seven seasons with a 40-40 overall record and a 26-32 mark in Big 12 play. His high point came in 2021, when Baylor won the conference title and Sugar Bowl and earned its first AP Top Five finish. But the Bears had four losing seasons across his six full seasons and never posted consecutive winning records. Possible replacements include Jeff Traylor, Spencer Danielson, G.J. Kinne, Jason Eck and Lincoln Riley.