You want to talk about a pivot.
Baylor was roasted. It lost the last four games of the 2022 season, went 3-9 in 2023 with just two wins over FBS teams, and started 2024 2-4, highlighted by a collapse against Colorado.
In his fifth season as the head coach, Dave Aranda was on a 3-17 run against FBS teams, the hot seat was flaming, and it was still early in October. But a funny thing happened after a two-week layoff.
All of a sudden, Baylor turned into the hottest team no one noticed.
In the Big 12, everyone was focused on Colorado, the rise of Arizona State, and the stunning collapse that was Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Utah. Meanwhile, Baylor put 59 on the board in a win over Texas Tech.
And then it pushed past Oklahoma State. And then won wild shootouts against TCU and West Virginia, beat Houston and Kansas, and just like that, it had its first winning season in three years and second in the previous five.
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And now Aranda has a loaded team that might do something large. It has as much returning experience as anyone in the country, the staff crushed the transfer portal, and … the schedule will be a problem.
But the Bears should be far better, starting with …
Baylor Bears College Football Preview 2025
Oct 26, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears tight end Matthew Klopfenstein (85) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half at McLane Stadium© Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Baylor Bears Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN
– On fire over the second half of last season, the Baylor offense averaged 34 points and 440 yards per game, was great in pass protection, and has the parts to not only keep it all going, but be even more consistent.
The line wasn’t dominant, but it got the job done. There’s a little bit of movement, but in some configuration with all-star guard Omar Aigbedion and center Coleton Price leading a veteran front with four starters back.
– The backfield is in place behind the strong front five. Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass combined for close to 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns – both averaged close to six yards per pop.
Sawyer Robinson can run a little bit, but the 6-4, 220-pounder is the bomber, throwing for over 3,000 yards with 28 touchdowns. Auburn transfer Walker White was a solid get as the No. 2 man for now, and to develop for next season.
– Josh Cameron might be the nation’s best punt returner – averaging close to 21 yards per try – and was the team’s top receiver with 52 catches and ten scores. No. 2 man Ashtyn Hawkins is out of the mix for now after the NCAA denied him an extra year of eligibility, but there’s still a shot he returns.
Kobe Prentice (Alabama) was a wonderful get from the portal, and Kole Wilson will be a factor after making 109 grabs of the last two years as a Texas State deep threat. Tight end Michael Trigg is an All-Big 12 talent who needs the ball more.
Baylor Bears Preview 2025: Defense
– The defensive issues were mostly a function of playing in the Big 12 against high-powered attacks. Just about everyone had some pop, but the Bears are great on third downs and held up in most key late moments. Now the experience is in place to be stronger, especially up front.
Seniors Jackie Marshall on the end and Cooper Lanz at tackle know what they’re doing, and there’s good depth to fill in around them. Samu Taumanupepe is a massive 345ish-pound transfer from Texas A&M to help anchor the middle.
– The transfer portal is loading up the linebacking corps. Leading tackler and All-Big 12 junior Keaton Thomas is the star of the show, but Emar’rion Winston (Oregon) and Matthew Fobbs-White (Tulane) need to be the pass rushers. Inside man Travion Barnes is coming off a 129-tackle, three-sack, 11-tackle-for-loss season at FIU.
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– The safety situation is terrific. Devyn Bobby is a do-it-all veteran who finished third on the team with 80 tackles and three interceptions.
Carl Williams IV made 35 stops despite missing a chunk of the season, and Devin Turner was a three-year producer at Northwestern with 162 tackles and four picks. Junior corner Caden Jenkins is a solid corner with four interceptions and 61 stops in his first two years.
Baylor Bears Key to the Season
Run, and keep running effectively.
The Baylor passing game is good enough handle the offensive workload, but the time of possession battle is rarely a positive for this bunch. No surprise, but running well takes the pressure off.
Baylor was 8-1 when running for over 110 yards last season – and the one was that miraculous shocker by Colorado – and was 0-4 when the ground attack was stuffed.
Baylor Bears Key Player
Matthew Fobbs-White, EDGE Jr.
Or Emar’rion Winston, or on the line, Jackie Marshall. Someone has to create a pass rush with most of the top sackers from last season gone.
Generating a steady pass rush was a problem. Out of the 23 sacks, 15 came in three games. Fobbs-White isn’t the new TJ Watt, but he was decent at generating pressure for Tulane last season.
Baylor Bears Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Kobe Prentice, WR Sr.
The Ashtyn Hawkins situation makes the signing of Prentice that much bigger. The Alabama transfer was a decent piece of the puzzle over the last three years – 60 catches for 780 yards and five scores for the Tide – and now he’ll get a much bigger role with the Bears.
Top Transfer Out: Alvin Ebosele, OT Jr.
There weren’t a lot of big losses through the portal, and the Bears should be able to make due on the veteran offensive front, but losing left tackle Alvin Ebosele to Houston was a bit of a hit.
Baylor Bears Key Game
Auburn, Aug. 30
With a trip to SMU up next and Arizona State soon to follow, Baylor could use a huge start.
If the team really will be one of the breakthrough stars of 2025, this is the game to prove it. Auburn is trying to rise up and rock again, Baylor is trying to build off the strong finish to 2024, and this late August game will dictate the narrative for both teams.
– 2025 Baylor Bears Schedule Breakdown
Baylor Bears Top 10 Players
1. Keaton Thomas, LB Jr.
2. Josh Cameron, WR/PR Sr.
3. Bryson Washington, RB Soph.
4. Devyn Bobby, S Sr.
5. Jackie Marshall, EDGE Sr.
6. Omar Aigbedion, OG Sr.
7. Michael Trigg, TE Sr.
8. Travion Barnes, LB Sr.
9. Kobe Prentice, WR Sr.
10. Palmer Williams, P Jr.
Baylor Bears 2024 Fun Stats
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 19-of-30 (63%), Baylor 20-of-37 (54%)
– Punt Return Average: Baylor 20.67, Opponents 6.43
– Second Half Scoring: Baylor 214, Opponents 120
Baylor Bears 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
There’s a lot to love about this team.
It has the experience, the depth, the coaching, and everything else in place to rise up above the Big 12 pack of good-to-very-good teams and be this year’s Arizona State.
It helps to get the Sun Devils in Waco, along with Kansas State and Utah. The Big 12 road games aren’t terrible – but Oklahoma State and Arizona should be far better than they were last year – and technically, the last five games are against teams that didn’t go bowling.
Auburn and at SMU to kick things off isn’t easy, but if this Baylor team really is that good, it might just win both of them.
It’s okay to expect big things from the Bears.
Set The Baylor Bears Win Total At … 6.5
Likely Wins: Houston, Samford
50/50 Games: Auburn, at Arizona, Arizona State, at Cincinnati, Kansas State, at Oklahoma State, at SMU, at TCU, UCF, Utah
Likely Losses: No projected sure thing losses
