Baylor University has dismissed head football coach Dave Aranda, becoming the third Power 4 program to make a coaching change in the 2026 college football carousel. The decision was announced on Sunday, October 25.
Aranda, a celebrated defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU, arrived at Baylor before the 2020 season. He led the Bears to a 12-2 record in 2021, culminating in a Sugar Bowl victory and a top-five finish in the AP Poll. However, the program posted a sub-.500 record both 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.
According to reports from Bears Illustrated, the 247Sports affiliate covering Baylor, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor is a leading candidate. Traylor holds a 58-27 overall record since taking over at UTSA in 2020, with a 37-12 conference mark spanning Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners are off to a 5-1 start this season. Analysts note Traylor's "Texas Ties" and his ability to win with multiple quarterbacks and coordinators.
Other potential candidates include a sitting head coach with multiple College Football Playoff appearances, though that name has not been publicly disclosed.
