2024 Recap
After back-to-back losing campaigns, including just a 3-9 record in 2023, head coach Dave Aranda likely felt his seat getting warmer entering 2024. He was able to cool it off by leading Baylor to an 8-5 record this past season. The Bears’ offense was the biggest catalyst for their success, placing among the 25 highest-graded units in the nation. That group should remain a strength in 2025, thanks to the return of quarterback Sawyer Robertson and a terrific duo of running backs in Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass. Aranda will need to fix a defense that placed just 101st in EPA per pass for his program to take the next step, though.
Biggest Strength: Potentially the best backfield in the Big 12
Sawyer Robertson is one of the better quarterbacks in the Big 12, placing fifth in the conference with a 74.8 PFF passing grade in 2024. He’ll also have the conference’s best running back unit to rely on.
Biggest Weakness: Pass defense
Baylor had issues with opposing passing attacks last year. The Bears ranked just 116th in team PFF coverage grade and 111th in team PFF pass-rush grade. Making matters worse is the fact that the Bears lost their top-two coverage defenders (Lorando Johnson and Devin Lemear) and both of their starting edge rushers, Steve Linton and Garmon Randolph.