Baylor Bears 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Baylor Bears 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Baylor Bears roster and what to expect in the Big 12 this season. Can Dave Aranda save his seat after a 5-7 collapse dropped him to 36-37 in Waco? And does Florida transfer DJ Lagway turn a top-20 offense into a Big 12 contender?
Can Jake Spavital’s air-raid offense stay elite after ranking 4th nationally in passing and 18th in total offense a year ago? Does DJ Lagway build on a 4,179-yard, 28-touchdown career now that he is home in Waco? Can new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman fix a unit that finished 122nd in scoring defense and 123rd against the run in 2025? Do returning starters like Kaden Sieracki up front and Devonte Tezino on the defensive line push Baylor forward? How does a schedule that opens against Auburn in Atlanta and runs through Colorado, Arizona State, TCU and BYU set up for the Bears? And where’s the betting value on the Baylor Bears win total, Big 12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Dave Aranda On The Hottest Seat In America
This Baylor Bears 2026 preview starts with a coach fighting for his job. Dave Aranda enters the season 36-37 at Baylor. The deck rates his seat a 9 out of 10, one of the hottest marks anywhere. First, Baylor slipped to 5-7 a season ago after climbing to 4-2. Then the Bears dropped five of their final six games. That skid included a Friday-night opener against Auburn and a home loss to Arizona State. Because Aranda already owns a Big 12 title, the school gave him one more year. So 2026 reads like a referendum season in Waco.
Jake Spavital, DJ Lagway And A Top-20 Offense
Baylor’s offense ranked 18th nationally in total offense in 2025. The passing game sat 4th in the country, with scoring offense 33rd. Jake Spavital runs an air-raid system that spreads the field. First, Florida transfer DJ Lagway comes home to Waco. He arrives with a 4,179-yard, 28-touchdown, 23-interception career across 24 games. Then Spavital pairs him with portal receiver Dre’lon Miller from Colorado. Baylor also added tight end Tony Livingston from Florida. Meanwhile the offense returns just 44 percent of its production. So Lagway inherits a retooled cast built around lineman Kaden Sieracki.
Joe Klanderman Takes Over A Broken Defense
Joe Klanderman arrives from Kansas State to run the Baylor defense. Aranda cleaned house on that side of the ball for good reason. First, the unit ranked 122nd nationally in scoring defense a season ago. Then the rushing defense finished 123rd, an ugly number for a defensive head coach. Because the group returns 62 percent of its production, Klanderman keeps real pieces. Devonte Tezino anchors the line, with Kyland Reed at linebacker. Jacob Redding and LeVar Thornton Jr. return in the secondary. Also the class added top-300 lineman Jae’Lin Battle to speed the rebuild.
The Schedule, Waco And The Win Total
Baylor opens against Auburn at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Then comes a home date with Prairie View A&M in Waco. First, Louisiana Tech, Colorado and a road trip to Arizona State fill the early slate. Next the Big 12 grind brings TCU, Kansas, UCF and Iowa State. From there, BYU, Texas Tech and Houston close the year. Those final three weeks could decide how high the Bears finish. The deck sets the Baylor win total at 6.5. Baylor sits plus 3900 to win the Big 12 and plus 2500 to make the College Football Playoff. So the hosts weigh the over against a slate with only six home games.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
01:58 Welcome To The Baylor Bears Preview
05:18 2025 Recap: A 5-7 Collapse
07:23 Dave Aranda On The Hot Seat
08:06 Aranda’s Big 12 Record: The Good And The Bad
14:49 Jake Spavital’s Top-20 Offense
16:15 DJ Lagway Comes Home To Waco
22:14 Portal Additions: Livingston, Miller & Freeman
31:14 Joe Klanderman Takes Over The Defense
37:13 George’s Bar And The Waco Tailgate
39:42 McLane Stadium And Baylor Legends
45:36 State Of The Program: 5 Out Of 10
47:21 Schedule: Auburn In Atlanta
52:05 Prairie View, La Tech And The Big 12 Slate
66:12 Locking In The Win Total
69:24 Who Should Be On The Schedule
70:49 Sign-Off And Hawaii Preview Tease
