3. Dave Aranda - Baylor
Dave Aranda’s tenure at Baylor has been a confusing one. The Bears went 2-7 in his first season, but he was primarily forgiven because it was a rebuilt roster, and COVID restrictions were in place. Things took off in 2021 as Baylor went from two wins to 12 and won the Sugar Bowl. They finished fifth in the AP poll, and Aranda appeared to be a star in the making. Baylor took a step back in 2022, going 6-7, and last season showed further regression, sputtering to 3-9 and only 2-7 in the Big 12. With Texas and Oklahoma now out of the Big 12, Baylor believes they should be contending for conference titles. Can Aranda get them back to that level? He has publicly acknowledged that he did not handle the transfer portal well but has adjusted his philosophy. The Bears have a relatively demanding schedule, a challenging non-conference game against Air Force, and road trips to Utah, Colorado, Iowa State, Texas Tech, West Virginia, and Houston. Returning to a bowl is a must for Aranda to stick around.
Baylor 2024 Win Total: 5.5
