Baylor Fires Coach Dave Aranda, Faces UCF as Underdog

Baylor has parted ways with head football coach Dave Aranda after seven seasons, during which the team posted a .500 record.

Aranda's tenure concluded with a 40-40 overall record. The team reached a high point in 2021, finishing 12-2 and winning the Big 12 Championship. However, the subsequent seasons saw declining results: 6-7 in 2022, 3-9 in 2023, and a 4-3 start to the 2026 season before the coaching change.

Joe Klanderman, previously Aranda's defensive coordinator, will take over as interim head coach for the upcoming game against UCF. The Bears are set to face the Knights on Friday night as 1.5-point underdogs at UCF's Bounce House stadium.

Baylor's offensive struggles have been a significant concern. Despite adding former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway from the transfer portal and employing a pass-heavy offense, the Bears rank 101st nationally in yards per pass and 125th in completion percentage. Aranda's decision to recruit Lagway did not yield the desired turnaround.

Klanderman acknowledged the situation but expressed optimism about the team's defensive capabilities. Baylor's defense ranks 21st in yards per play allowed, 11th in yards allowed per rush, and 11th in sack percentage. The defense has been described as a balanced unit, suggesting that improved offensive performance could have made the team a Big 12 contender.

UCF enters the game coming off a notable victory against BYU but has experienced a season of mixed results. The Knights hold a 4-3 record, marked by one significant win and several uninspired losses. Their offense has been a point of concern, ranking 98th in yards per play (5.1) and 96th in yards per game (338.7).

Despite the Knights' offensive inconsistencies, they are favored against a Baylor team undergoing a coaching transition. The betting prediction for the game favors a low-scoring affair, with the projected total points set at under 47.5.