A blocked kick will be the last Baylor regret for Dave Aranda.
One day after a potential game-winning field goal attempt was knocked down by Kansas’ defense, Baylor fired its head coach after six-plus seasons and an uninspiring 40-40 cumulative record.
Through the comparatively easier part of their schedule, the Bears are 4-3 this year and coming off their worst loss of the season: a 25-24 crusher to the previously winless-in-the-Big-12 Jayhawks in a game Baylor led, 21-10, after three quarters.
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.
“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 VP and director of intercollegiate athletics Doug McNamee said in a statement. “He is a gifted coach and a 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.”
Previously LSU’s defensive coordinator, Aranda was hired by Baylor in 2020 and quickly looked like a savior, leading Baylor to a 12-2 season and Sugar Bowl victory in 2021.
Since then, though, Baylor has had just one season with a winning record. What Aranda hoped would be a bounce-back 2026 campaign began with a heartbreaking loss to Auburn in which Baylor’s hopes were dashed when a two-point pass attempt wound up inches short.
Defensive coordinator Joe Klafell will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season, which could get ugly: Baylor ends at BYU, against Texas Tech and at Houston.
