Baylor University dismissed head football coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, Oct. 25, becoming the third Power 4 program to make a coaching change in the 2026 college football carousel.
Aranda, a former defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU, led the Bears to a 12-2 record, a Sugar Bowl victory, and a top-five AP Poll finish in 2021, but the program posted sub-.500 records in subsequent seasons.
Interim head coach Jon Klanderman debuted with a 41-9 win over UCF in Week 9.
The coaching search has identified several candidates, including UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, who holds a 58-27 overall record and a 37-12 conference mark since 2020, with his team off to a 5-1 start this season. Traylor's Texas ties and success with multiple quarterbacks make him a notable target.
Additional candidates, including a sitting head coach with College Football Playoff experience, have been reported by Bears Illustrated, a 247Sports affiliate covering Baylor.
