Baylor fires Dave Aranda after third loss of season, will reportedly owe him substantial buyout
Baylor has fired Dave Aranda after a 25-24 defeat by Kansas left the Bears with their second straight loss and third defeat of the season. The change ends Aranda’s seven-season tenure and follows a sharp contrast between his early success and the team’s recent results.
Baylor started the 2026 season with a narrow loss to Auburn, won four games in a row, then lost to TCU and Kansas; its three defeats have been by a combined 13 points. Aranda led Baylor to a 12-2 record and Sugar Bowl win in 2021, but leaves with a 40-40 overall record. His contract ran through 2029, and the reported buyout is around $12 million; defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will serve as interim coach.
In short
- Baylor dismissed Dave Aranda after a 25-24 loss to Kansas.
- His reported buyout is around $12 million.
- Aranda leaves with a 40-40 record and a 2021 Sugar Bowl win.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Baylor can argue that a 40-40 record and recent losses show the programme is not meeting its ambitions, and that changing coaches now gives it a chance to reset and build momentum. The reported buyout is costly, but supporters may see it as an investment in restoring consistent competitiveness.
The case against
Keeping Aranda could have been justified by his record of leading Baylor to a 12-2 season and a Sugar Bowl win, alongside the narrow margins in this season’s three defeats. With his contract running through 2029, Baylor might have preferred to give him more time to address the team’s problems and avoid a substantial buyout.