Baylor interim head coach Joe Klanderman has the Bears playing some of their best football of the season, and his message about the team’s mentality is looking increasingly relevant after two straight victories.
Before Baylor’s latest win over Iowa State, Klanderman made it clear that the days of wondering which version of the Bears would show up each Saturday were over.
“Our guys are buying into the fact that we’re through being this wishy-washy group, wondering which Baylor group is going to show up,” Klanderman said. “You’re going to get a Baylor group that’s going to play their butts off.”
So far, he’s backing up those words.
Baylor Football Finds New Life Under Joe Klanderman
Two weeks after Baylor fired Dave Aranda, the Bears have won consecutive games, beating UCF 41-9 before taking down Iowa State 42-31 on Saturday.
That’s 83 points in two games for a Baylor team that struggled with consistency throughout the first half of the season.
The Bears are now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, putting them among five conference teams with two losses or fewer heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.
And while Baylor still needs plenty of help, the Bears remain mathematically alive in the Big 12 Championship Game race.
That’s a remarkable position considering where this program stood just a couple of weeks ago.
Baylor Faces Brutal Final Three Games
Of course, things are about to get much more difficult for Klanderman and the Bears.
Baylor’s remaining schedule includes a trip to BYU, a home matchup against Texas Tech and a road game at Houston.
All three opponents are firmly in the Big 12 championship conversation, meaning Baylor will have every opportunity to prove whether its recent turnaround is legitimate.
There’s also an interesting question developing around Klanderman himself.
If the interim coach can lead Baylor to another victory or two against that schedule, does he deserve serious consideration for the permanent job?
It’s probably too early for that conversation, but it’s no longer an unreasonable question.
For now, Klanderman promised a Baylor team that would show up and compete every week.
Through two games, he’s delivered.
