Dave Aranda may be at the end of the line this weekend as the Baylor Bears travel to Kansas in hopes of putting things back on track in a must-win matchup with the Jayhawks on Saturday.
Multiple folks in college football media circles pondered whether Baylor’s 17-6 loss at TCU was the proper time for a split with Aranda, now 44-40 in seven seasons as head coach. Hovering right around .500 midway through the 2026 campaign, Aranda and his Bears are a 3-point favorite heading to Lawrence to take on Isaiah Marshall and Kansas (2-4, 0-3 Big 12), searching for their first Big 12 win and first against the Bears since 2007.
Zach Gelb, speaking on the 365Sports college football podcast, is already making the case for Spencer Danielson, currently the head coach at Boise State, as the name Baylor (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) should chase as its replacement for Aranda as a “home-run hire” for Bears football, should they move on from Aranda before or after this season.
Danielson signed an extension to remain at Boise State through 2030 in April.
“You could argue Boise State has been the premier non-Power Four conference job for a long time,” Danielson said. “… If you are Baylor, you have to call (Danielson) and see if he has the appetite to leave Boise State and go take a job on like Baylor, because that would be a grand-slam, 10-out-of-10 hire for the Baylor program.”
Should Baylor Lose at Kansas on Saturday, What’s Next?
Baylor, fresh off its first Big 12 loss of the season and second overall, heads to Kansas as part of a pivotal 3-game stretch for the Bears where you’ve gotta win at Kansas, at UCF, and against Iowa State at home if they’re going to make a case for themselves with likely three top-25 matchups ending the year.
Aranda, as with Danielson, is signed with Baylor near the end of the decade in 2029 with a buyout ranging from $15-20 million, according to USA Today. Aranda has also spoken publicly about the school’s money problems.
Pushing off the critics begins with a win at Kansas on Saturday following an otherwise lackluster performance in a 17-6 home loss vs. TCU. DJ Lagway, finishing 25-of-53 for 256 yards and 1 interception, was responsible for one of two Baylor turnovers; The Bears rushed for just 54 yards, with Lagway finishing with -17 yards on the ground.
Looking for a return to form, Lagway and Baylor matchup with a Kansas team that’ll be without some big names this weekend, including cornerback Syeed Gibbs, linebacker Jaron Willis, safety Mason Ellis and possibly safety Jaden Harris (doubtful), according to the latest injury report.
Kansas managed a 17-7 lead through the end of the first quarter last week at Kansas State, but ultimately fell apart against the Wildcats on the ground in a 35-24 road loss in Manhattan. The Jayhawks took some steps forward with a young quarterback in Marshall, who is a capable arm still growing into his role as a full-time starter.
The question is simply whether Marshall and the Jayhawks can produce more than a Baylor offense that’s been largely inconsistent through a 4-2 start.
