blackie said:

---

Loved what RGIII did for us. But him at head coach would be Deion Sanders version 2.

---

*Deion Sanders but with zero prior experience

DTBear said:

---

Danielson looks to be off the table based on public statement

---

What did he say?

PartyBear said:

---

DTBear said:

---

Danielson looks to be off the table based on public statement

---

What did he say?

---

https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article317787492.html

People jump on the Christian aspect too easily and automatically think someone like Danielson would be interested in Baylor. There's nothing in his background or in any public statements he's ever made that has even hinted that he's interested in coaching anywhere other than out West.

DTBear said:

---

Danielson looks to be off the table based on public statement

---

Yeah, he was pretty adamant -- far more than was necessary if he's actually open to other jobs. I think we can probably scratch his name off the list going forward.

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

People jump on the Christian aspect too easily and automatically think someone like Danielson would be interested in Baylor. There's nothing in his background or in any public statements he's ever made that has even hinted that he's interested in coaching anywhere other than out West.

---

I think it's pretty reasonable to recognize the potential fit there. But this likely ends that pursuit.

🎯 Ranking the top Power Four vacancies in the 2026-27 coach carousel cycle.

Agree or disagree? https://t.co/PH1Nd0yOax pic.twitter.com/LEOR2L0HhK

— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 26, 2026

boognish_bear said:

---

🎯 Ranking the top Power Four vacancies in the 2026-27 coach carousel cycle.

Agree or disagree? https://t.co/PH1Nd0yOax pic.twitter.com/LEOR2L0HhK

— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 26, 2026

---

Baylor fans don't think nearly highly enough of our job.

It's a really good gig. We pay pretty well, have a high ceiling and are far more patient/less crazy as a fan base than most other Power 4 programs.

If you want the opportunity to win big without getting subtweeted by your billionaire overlord(s) after every loss, Baylor is a hell of a job.

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

People jump on the Christian aspect too easily and automatically think someone like Danielson would be interested in Baylor. There's nothing in his background or in any public statements he's ever made that has even hinted that he's interested in coaching anywhere other than out West.

---

Yeah I would've loved him to come here, not only the Christian aspect but also winning 3 MW championships in a row, making the CFP, and producing a Heisman runner-up in Jeanty. Guy knows how to win at Boise

Just like everyone running for president in 28 is adamant they aren't. I think it is political coach speak. That is not to say I think we would land him necessarily. If he tells us this privately so be it. We have other potential options who are good HCs.

Bearfan1998 said:

---

Lincoln Riley

---

Hah!

Lincoln Riley as a head coaching candidate is a similar proposition as Lagway as a transfer QB. It makes headlines but Braden Atkinson and JC French are other names we considered who are outplaying him.

UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor on @SASportsStar with @JasonMinnix and @joereinagel210 : “I signed a 10 year contract here. My wife and I love it here… Cari and I are planning on riding out our full contract. We love it here.”

— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) October 26, 2026

Baylor coach Matt Rhule, expected to be a leading candidate for head-coaching vacancies with the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, said Tuesday he expects to be back with the Bears next season.

"I plan on that," Rhule said. "I certainly think I will be."

"One thing people don't realize is coaches, we pick up our families," Rhule said. "We rip them out of their homes. We rip them out of the places that they are. Sometimes you do that until you get to a point where you find happy. You shouldn't mess with happy.

"There's a lot to accomplish at Baylor. And most importantly, it's just each and every year, I want to put together a championship-caliber team. And I think we have a chance to be even better next year than we are this year. ... More than money, it's about the situation for my family."

Baylor, who went from 1-11 two years ago to 11-2 this season, will play Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Wednesday.

"I'm always looking three, four, five years down the line," Rhule said. "I think we have a chance to be a perennial national contender, to be in the top 10 and be in the top five and go to College Football Playoff and play in New Year's Six bowls."

Sicsemperbears28 said:

---

Big12Fan2024 said:

---

People jump on the Christian aspect too easily and automatically think someone like Danielson would be interested in Baylor. There's nothing in his background or in any public statements he's ever made that has even hinted that he's interested in coaching anywhere other than out West.

---

Yeah I would've loved him to come here, not only the Christian aspect but also winning 3 MW championships in a row, making the CFP, and producing a Heisman runner-up in Jeanty. Guy knows how to win at Boise

---

I would love for him to come here too. He would've been in my top 3. But I think people just read too much into the Christian thing and think, "Oh, he's a Christian so he will obviously be interested in Baylor." He can be a Christian and coach at a number of schools.

Boise State's Spencer Danielson on outside job speculation: "Zero interest."

He told @On3 this summer: "At Boise State, it’s everything. Winning conference championships and College Football Playoff games is why every single player on our team came here."… https://t.co/1oFj5fSQQI

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) October 26, 2026

Has a head coach at another school ever said mid season "Yea I'm very interested in getting tf out of this place, taking a bigger payday, etc"

Jason Eck
Born: Aug 11, 1977 (49 years), La Crosse, WI
Education: St. Pius X Catholic High School
Team: New Mexico Lobos football

My two cents: I'm not super excited about any of the candidates out there. I think vision will be the biggest key. As much as I have mixed feelings about Rhule, he recruited with purpose. Dave never felt like he had a vision for his team, and I still don't know what an Aranda recruit looks like.

This is a big, fat duh, but we need to get back to team building. You can't just throw guys together and hope it works, especially not with the level of talent Baylor can bring in at the moment.

✍️ So how good is the Baylor job, and who could be the next coach?

Good facilities, decent money and some questions.

The job profile and names to watch (free link: https://t.co/eBfTnWezSA

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 27, 2026

The Athletic
How good is the Baylor football coaching job? Dave Aranda's replacement can dream on potential
Chris VanniniOct 26, 2026
The Dave Aranda era at Baylor is over.

Aranda was fired on Sunday, the day after a loss to Kansas that followed a loss to rival TCU and dropped the Bears to 4-3 on the year. He leaves Waco with a 40-40 record over six-plus seasons, arriving after serving as defensive coordinator on LSU's 2019 national championship team. The Bears went 12-2 and won the Big 12 championship in his second season, finishing the 2021 campaign with a Sugar Bowl win and a top-five ranking. But they had three losing seasons over the next four years, and Aranda admitted during that time that he'd been too slow to embrace certain changes within the sport, such as name, image and likeness money.

So how good is the Baylor job? What names could get in the mix? Based on conversations with industry sources, here is a report card for the job and the potential candidates to watch.

Recent History/Tradition: B

Baylor was one of the worst programs in the Southwest Conference and the Big 12 for decades, but the program's status changed over the last 15 years, a stretch that included six top-15 finishes and three Big 12 championships. Former head coach Art Briles won at least 10 games four times from 2011 to '15 before he was fired amid a school sexual assault scandal. Matt Rhule replaced Briles, quickly rebuilt the program and won 11 games again in 2019 with a top-10 finish before Aranda took over.

But the Bears haven't contended for the Big 12 since that 2021 title, and they have had five losing seasons in the last nine years. The ceiling is high here, but the floor is low.

On-Field Outlook: B-

Quarterback D.J. Lagway, who transferred in from Florida this year, is in the unusual spot of having played for two consecutive head coaches who were fired midseason. The Bears invested to land the former five-star and son of a Baylor football alum, and the results have been mixed, with Lagway battling injuries this fall. Will he be a priority for the next coach?

The roster includes some young running backs (Caden Knighten, Ryelan Morris) and good defensive players with eligibility remaining, but the next coach needs to find new receivers. Baylor is fifth in the Big 12 in 247Sports' Team Talent rankings, which is based on the high school rating of players.

The portal will open for Baylor's current players after a new coach is hired, or 30 days from Sunday if a new coach isn't hired before then.

Money Matters: B

There is decent money here, but not on the level of defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, according to industry sources.

Aranda's salary was believed to be around $4.7 million in 2025, though it's not fully known because Baylor is a private school. That falls in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 but far behind Big Ten and SEC salaries. Baylor is also expected to owe Aranda a buyout of a bit more than $10 million, though it's possible some of that could be offset by Aranda's next job.

Baylor's 2026 roster cost around $20-23 million, according to The Athletic's reporting. That was on the upper end of the Big 12 but behind Texas Tech and slightly behind TCU and BYU. The Bears spent good money on some of last year's freshmen and Lagway this year.

New athletic director Doug McNamee has a background in fundraising, but he also must balance a football reset with a national championship-winning basketball program that has its own demands.

University Stability: A-

Former athletic director Mack Rhoades' sudden resignation last November amid personal issues was likely the reason Aranda even got another season. A year later, Baylor's administration is in a much better spot. McNamee is an alum and a former Baylor athletics administrator who spent the past several years working with Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia company and with Field & Stream. He was on the search committee that landed Matt Rhule and played a key role in major athletics fundraising, including the building of McLane Stadium, the football team's home since 2014.

Meanwhile, Linda Livingstone is one of the most respected school presidents in college sports, and she's frequently involved in top NCAA committees. A decade after that sexual assault scandal took down numerous school leaders, Baylor's administration is in a much more stable position.

Coach Pool: B+

So who could get in the mix? Here are some names to watch.

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor: He's been in the mix for jobs at Texas Tech and Houston in recent years, and he'll get a look here. A longtime Texas high school coach, he knows the state better than anyone, and his Roadrunners went 32-9 from 2021 to '23, with two Conference USA titles. They're 7-1 this year, atop the American, with some good young players who could potentially follow Traylor to another job. Matt Rhule rebuilt Baylor by building deep connections with the state's high school coaches. Traylor was inducted into the THSCA Hall of Honor last year.

Texas State head coach GJ Kinne: The 37-year-old Texas native has taken the Bobcats to consecutive eight-win seasons and three consecutive bowls, the first in the school's Football Bowl Subdivision history. He previously took over Incarnate Word from Eric Morris and produced a top-three finish in his lone year. Kinne is the son of a former Baylor player, and his team is 4-3 this year. He's only 14-13 in conference play at Texas State, but that record includes a lot of one-score losses (the Bobcats have had 13 overall since 2023), and he notched a 2023 win over Baylor in his first game in charge. His chances could depend on how the Bobcats finish the season. Quarterback Brad Jackson could be an enticing piece to bring along as well.

New Mexico head coach Jason Eck: Eck, who is expected to be one of the most popular names in this cycle, turned Idaho and then New Mexico into winners. He's 15-5 at UNM, including 6-1 this year with a team that is giving up the fewest points in the nation and will head to a bowl game for the second year in a row; before his arrival, the program hadn't reached one since 2016. The former Wisconsin player has coached all over the country and shown an ability to adapt to his surroundings. He has some Texas recruiting ties, too: This year's New Mexico roster has 21 Texans just one state over.

Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson: The 37-year-old took Boise State to the College Football Playoff in 2024, and he's won three conference titles in three years and sits atop the new Pac-12 now. He's a California native, but Boise State recruits Texas hard, with 13 Texans on the current roster. Danielson also frequently speaks publicly about his faith, an approach that dovetails with an important part of Baylor's university mission.

Florida Atlantic head coach Zach Kittley: The 35-year-old Abilene, Texas, native was Texas Tech's offensive coordinator before getting his first head coaching job. The Owls are 5-2 and have the nation's No. 17 scoring offense this year after going 4-8 in his first season. Kittley also previously coached the record-setting offense at Western Kentucky in 2021. It might be early for him to land a Power 4 job, but if FAU can score some American Conference upsets in the next few weeks, he will get more attention.

Miami (Fla.) offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson: Dawson directed the No. 1 scoring offense in 2024, turned quarterback Cam Ward into a No. 1 pick, helped Miami reach last season's national championship game and has one of the top offenses again this fall. He's also spent seven years in the state of Texas across stints at Stephen F. Austin and Houston.

North Texas head coach Neal Brown: He's off to a 5-2 start with the Mean Green, made more impressive by the fact that he completely rebuilt the roster once he arrived to replace Eric Morris. Brown, who spent 2025 in an off-field role at Texas, has plenty of head coaching experience, going 35-16 at Troy and reaching four bowls in six seasons at West Virginia. He also spent three years as Texas Tech's offensive coordinator from 2010 to '12.

UNLV head coach Dan Mullen: He's the complete opposite of Aranda, an outgoing, offensive-minded coach, and he's won at several different jobs. He took Mississippi State to a No. 1 ranking and an Orange Bowl, leaving as the school's winningest coach. He took Florida to three consecutive New Year's Six bowls before getting fired at 5-6 in Year 4. At UNLV, he took the Rebels to a Mountain West championship in his first season and has followed that debut with an up-and-down year this fall.

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker: He nearly took the Tulane job last cycle before deciding to stay at LSU, believing this path would help his chances of landing a Power 4 head coaching job. The 44-year-old stabilized LSU when he joined Brian Kelly's staff and was retained by Lane Kiffin. This year, he has a top-20 scoring defense.

Alabama co-defensive coordinator Mo Linguist: The Dallas native played at Baylor from 2003 to '06 and began his coaching career in Waco. He has deep recruiting ties to the state and also coached at Texas A&M and with the Dallas Cowboys. He does have head coaching experience, going 14-23 in three years at Buffalo with one bowl trip before leaving to join the Alabama staff.

Navy head coach Brian Newberry: Navy's 2-5 start probably rules him out, but he's a Baylor grad and Oklahoma native who went 21-5 over the last two seasons, with wins over Oklahoma, Cincinnati and top American teams. Had this job opened last year, it would have been really interesting. He's a defensive coach, so he's not tied to a triple-option offense.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley: The ultimate wild card. Industry sources a year ago shared whispers that Riley could be interested in this job, but it didn't open. Outside talk of the West Texas native leaving USC to return to his home state has been around for a while, whether by getting fired (complete with a $60 million-plus buyout) or by leaving on his own, which USC would likely welcome. The TCU job could also fit Riley if the Frogs move on from Sonny Dykes. Riley's stunning move from Oklahoma to USC in 2021 makes anything feel possible. The Trojans are 6-2 with big games coming up. How those games turn out could determine Riley's future.

Overall grade: B+

There's a lot of potential to like: decent money, good facilities, good location and a path to a conference title. Baylor has been a successful program over the last 15 years, but the roster is going to need a refresh, and even a slight boost in money could make a big difference. With plenty of coaches in and around Texas, there's no shortage of nearby options, but Baylor proved with Rhule that preexisting local ties aren't a requirement to win big here.

PartyBear said:

---

Just like everyone running for president in 28 is adamant they aren't. I think it is political coach speak. That is not to say I think we would land him necessarily. If he tells us this privately so be it. We have other potential options who are good HCs.

---

I disagree. There are a lot of diplomatic ways to say "I'm not interested, but ask me again in December." This was not that.

This sounded like the words of a guy who is committed to building the program at Boise State. If he were to leave now, he'd look like a giant liar and hypocrite and would become the biggest villain ever to Boise State fans.

I think he stays, and honestly, good for him. He's likely got a better chance of making the playoff where he is than he'd have at most P4 jobs. And he's paid well -- not as well as he'd be at a place like Baylor, but well enough to be secure the rest of his life. I applaud the loyalty.

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

---

I think he'd be a candidate somewhere. He's a really good coach. Shutting it down before most jobs are even open tells me he likes it where he is. And there's nothing wrong with that.

boognish_bear said:

---

Boise State's Spencer Danielson on outside job speculation: "Zero interest."

He told @On3 this summer: "At Boise State, it’s everything. Winning conference championships and College Football Playoff games is why every single player on our team came here."… https://t.co/1oFj5fSQQI

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) October 26, 2026

---

You can take this to mean that he has zero interest in leaving Boise State for Baylor, Maryland or NC State.

So scratch Danielson off the list.

So Traylor, Kinnee, Eck, Klanderman, the Tarleton State guy, the Mt State guy, or someone who gets fired from a P4 job.

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

---

For some reason this made me look at Eric Morris' contract. For some reason is buyout is only 7 million if he leaves before this January. That seems insanely low if that was correct it was a search through AI.

Chadwell at Liberty is 64-35 career all time. Since Boise HC and Traylor are out, how 'bout it?

It's my understanding that Morris brought a lot of youngsters from North Texas with him to OSU.

I wonder if Traylor has a lot if youngsters eligible to transfer with him from his current team? That would be a huge plus.

Timbear said:

---

Chadwell at Liberty is 64-35 career all time. Since Boise HC and Traylor are out, how 'bout it?

---

Traylor is out? Did I miss something?

PartyBear said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

---

For some reason this made me look at Eric Morris' contract. For some reason is buyout is only 7 million if he leaves before this January. That seems insanely low if that was correct it was a search through AI.

---

That's what I've heard..7 mill..and he only makes 3.8 mil..we were paying Aranda 4.5-4.7 mil

Maybe we can wish Morriss has a Baylor clause in his contract.

Realitybites said:

---

Timbear said:

---

Chadwell at Liberty is 64-35 career all time. Since Boise HC and Traylor are out, how 'bout it?

---

Traylor is out? Did I miss something?

---

No. He gave a very generic, "My wife and I love it here" quote. It wasn't nearly as definitive as Danielson's.

Remember, Danielson, Eck, Dickert, and Traylor all have the option to wait and see what other programs open up.

FSU, Rutgers, USC, Colorado, Clemson, Washington, and TCU might have a vacancy by year's end.

PartyBear said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

---

For some reason this made me look at Eric Morris' contract. For some reason is buyout is only 7 million if he leaves before this January. That seems insanely low if that was correct it was a search through AI.

---

What else was he going to say half way through the season?

Stefano DiMera said:

---

PartyBear said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Or a case of he or his people know he's not a candidate.

Even though I don't think we have our guy already. Unless he's a sitting coach who for obvious reasons can't say he's leaving.

---

For some reason this made me look at Eric Morris' contract. For some reason is buyout is only 7 million if he leaves before this January. That seems insanely low if that was correct it was a search through AI.

---

That's what I've heard..7 mill..and he only makes 3.8 mil..we were paying Aranda 4.5-4.7 mil

Maybe we can wish Morriss has a Baylor clause in his contract.

---

The $7M buyout is if he's fired. It's apparently only $2.5M to buyout if poached. I thought Morris was not even remotely realistic until just now.

Apparently, Traylor has an $11M buyout if fired but $3M if poached.

college football programs can go from bad to good immediately by simply bringing over everyone from james madison pic.twitter.com/tGzAsNOeOl

— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) October 27, 2026