# Baylor Bears

Big 12 · McLane Stadium, Waco, TX
Head coach: Dave Aranda · year 7 · 36-37 career over 7 seasons, all at BAY
Offense: Air Raid · Defense: Multiple 3-4

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 5-7 (3-6 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#96 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 6.5 (over priced +146)
- Returning starter games: 27%
- Schedule difficulty: 32nd-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 17% | 12/71 | 5/13 |
| Offensive line | 21% | 12/56 | 4/10 |
| Defensive front | 30% | 24/80 | 6/19 |
| Secondary | 40% | 21/53 | 9/18 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Jacob Redding (SAF), LeVar Thornton Jr. (CB), Micah Gifford (SAF), Kaden Sieracki (OL), Kyler Jordan (DE)
- Key departures (with destination): Sawyer Robertson (QB), DJ Coleman (SAF) – FLA, Emar'rion Winston (DL) – ASU, Jackie Marshall (DE), Keaton Thomas (LB) – MISS
- Key arrivals (with previous school): DJ Lagway (QB) – FLA, Gavin Freeman (WR) – OKST, Dre'lon Miller (WR) – COLO, Tony Livingston (TE) – FLA, Garrick Ponder (DE) – USM

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Louis Brown IV, Ashton Jones, London Smith
- WR-Z: Dre'lon Miller, Taz Williams Jr.
- WR-SL: Gavin Freeman, Jadon Porter
- LT: Logan Moore, Cole Rhett
- LG: Nate Kibble, Asher Hale
- C: Kedrick Walker, Harrison Cluff
- RG: Koltin Sieracki, Lawson Petty
- RT: Kaden Sieracki, Matthew Parker
- TE: Tony Livingston, Matthew Klopfenstein
- QB: DJ Lagway, Nate Bennett, Edward Griffin
- RB: Dawson Pendergrass, Caden Knighten, Michael Turner, Ryelan Morris

### Defense

- DE: Jordan Mack, Zavion Hardy, Trent Thomas
- NT: Hosea Wheeler, Devonte Tezino
- DT: Kamren Washington, Jamaal Whyce Jr.
- JACK: Garrick Ponder, Ryan Davis, Kyler Jordan
- WLB: Kyland Reed, Kaleb Burns, Anthony Crenshaw Jr.
- MLB: Travion Barnes, Kedrick Walker
- LCB: LeVar Thornton Jr., Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Reggie Bush II
- SS: Devin Turner, Colby McCalister, Austin Ausberry
- FS: Jacob Redding, Tyler Turner, Micah Gifford
- RCB: Devon Jordan, Jayden Rowe
- NB: Bo Onu, Daniel Cobbs

### Special Teams

- PT: Palmer Williams
- PK: Rhett Armstrong
- KO: Rhett Armstrong
- LS: Dylan Schaub, Brady Hibbard
- H: Palmer Williams

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Auburn | Away | ABC | BAY +7.5 |
| 2 | Prairie View A&M Panthers (FCS) | Home | ESPN+ | – |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech | Home | ESPNU | – |
| 4 | Colorado | Home | – | – |
| 5 | Arizona State | Away | – | – |
| 7 | TCU | Home | – | – |
| 8 | Kansas | Away | – | – |
| 9 | UCF | Away | ESPN | – |
| 10 | Iowa State | Home | – | – |
| 11 | BYU | Away | – | – |
| 12 | Texas Tech | Home | – | – |
| 13 | Houston | Away | – | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/baylor
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.