What about a series or two?
What does it tell the team?
What about Lagway?
Has Aranda told Lagway it's a possibility?

After 1 or 2 offensive series and nothings happening, go for it.

ImABearToo said:

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After 1 or 2 offensive series and nothings happening, go for it.

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That's where I am with it. Give Lagway another chance to start... but if he is below 50% completion rate well into the second quarter I would give Bennett a shot...especially if we are losing.

I'm all for it, but I suspect a lot of promises were made to DJ and Derek about playing time. I think it's far more likely that DJ gets a mystery injury of some kind rather than being outright benched in order to save face

Youre a clown said:

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I'm all for it, but I suspect a lot of promises were made to DJ and Derek about playing time. I think it's far more likely that DJ gets a mystery injury of some kind rather than being outright benched in order to save face

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Isn't that kind of how it went down with Finn?

boognish_bear said:

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Youre a clown said:

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I'm all for it, but I suspect a lot of promises were made to DJ and Derek about playing time. I think it's far more likely that DJ gets a mystery injury of some kind rather than being outright benched in order to save face

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Isn't that kind of how it went down with Finn?

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Exactly. And Finn wasn't seen as nearly as big of a recruiting win. Lagway in my opinion was brought in largely for PR to "bring hope" after a terrible 2025 season. I just don't think Dave benches him unless Lagway goes out there and throws 3+ picks in a half or something like that. And like I said, I think that there would be a mystery injury that happens before he gets benched.

Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

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If this is potentially in the cards I definitely think a conversation ahead of time with a little bit of a heads up will help it to go over easier.

Bennett is better than Lagway; Robertson was better than Finn. I guaranty you that all that was known before each season started. Sad that Aranda can't pull the trigger until essentially forced to. It would show leadership were Aranda to start the best. And the money spent on Lagway is (and Finn was) a lost cost that should not factor into the decision to make a change.

Dave Aranda, when asked if the Bears ever considered going to Nate Bennett at quarterback to give the offense a spark:

“Run game-wise, I think we were averaging like one yard a carry. Throw game-wise, there are times when the first read wasn't open, and so you get to your second… pic.twitter.com/4HEK4S7GWG

— Baylor Bears on SicEm365 (@SicEm365) October 22, 2026

Ole "duck and dodge" Aranda at his best. For crying out loud, pull the guy if he's playing bad. That's Coaching 101. DJ gets butt hurt, oh well. Giving the team its best chance of winning should be top priority. We've lost our way these days.

ImABearToo said:

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Ole "duck and dodge" Aranda at his best. For crying out loud, pull the guy if he's playing bad. That's Coaching 101. DJ gets butt hurt, oh well. Giving the team its best chance of winning should be top priority. We've lost our way these days.

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but maybe you don't announce it ahead of time

Youre a clown said:

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I'm all for it, but I suspect a lot of promises were made to DJ and Derek about playing time. I think it's far more likely that DJ gets a mystery injury of some kind rather than being outright benched in order to save face

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If CDA and company did make this promise, that would be yet another reason he needs to be out of a job.

I hope DJ and his Dad read these comments so Dj might get fired up to play better. Dave/Spav played a hurt Sawyer, and now they're playing a hurt Dj. 7-5 ceiling, 4-8 floor.

Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

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When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

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When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

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In 2011 when we got up 41-0 on SFA right after halftime and after a long rain delay, he pulled Griffin and put in Petty. Then the game was called at the end of the 3rd quarter when another thunderstorm was on the way.

Are there any performance clauses in these NIL contracts?

Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

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He was good enough at coaching, he didn't have to.

Timbear said:

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Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

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He was good enough at coaching, he didn't have to.

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Post of the month, maybe the season so far.

Robert Wilson said:

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Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

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Cab's very first game … he started Kirby Freeman, eventually jerked him for RG3, and the rest is history

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Yep.

Waco1947 said:

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What about a series or two?
What does it tell the team?
What about Lagway?
Has Aranda told Lagway it's a possibility?

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If he's successful, it says to the team that we are committed to winning. If he's worse? It says we squandered our best chance to win.

EatMoreSalmon said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

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Cab's very first game … he started Kirby Freeman, eventually jerked him for RG3, and the rest is history

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Yep.

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You're right. Baylor, and most college coaches really, are hesitant to pull starters. One notable time I recall is way back in either 2004 or 2005. Guy Morris was coach. I think we were playing OK State. I don't recall the qb at the time, but most knew the backup Bell was better. Sometime late in the game, Morris made the change. And Bell closed the gap. Unfortunately he was put in too late to win that one, but he did complete one of Baylor's greatest upsets against A&M that year.

Guitarbiscuit said:

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EatMoreSalmon said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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Mitch Henessey said:

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Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

---

Cab's very first game … he started Kirby Freeman, eventually jerked him for RG3, and the rest is history

---

Yep.

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You're right. Baylor, and most college coaches really, are hesitant to pull starters. One notable time I recall is way back in either 2004 or 2005. Guy Morris was coach. I think we were playing OK State. I don't recall the qb at the time, but most knew the backup Bell was better. Sometime late in the game, Morris made the change. And Bell closed the gap. Unfortunately he was put in too late to win that one, but he did complete one of Baylor's greatest upsets against A&M that year.

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2005 @Mizzou. A win would have put us in position to be bowl eligible. GuyMo started Jermaine Alfred over Shawn Bell. The story I heard was that after we fell behind so far so quickly, Morriss's wife ran down to the first row of the stands and screamed at him to change QBs. Too late and we lost to go 4-6 and miss a bowl, but we beat OkSt the following week.

whitetrash said:

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Guitarbiscuit said:

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EatMoreSalmon said:

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Robert Wilson said:

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Mitch Henessey said:

---

Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

---

Cab's very first game … he started Kirby Freeman, eventually jerked him for RG3, and the rest is history

---

Yep.

---

You're right. Baylor, and most college coaches really, are hesitant to pull starters. One notable time I recall is way back in either 2004 or 2005. Guy Morris was coach. I think we were playing OK State. I don't recall the qb at the time, but most knew the backup Bell was better. Sometime late in the game, Morris made the change. And Bell closed the gap. Unfortunately he was put in too late to win that one, but he did complete one of Baylor's greatest upsets against A&M that year.

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2005 @Mizzou. A win would have put us in position to be bowl eligible. GuyMo started Jermaine Alfred over Shawn Bell. The story I heard was that after we fell behind so far so quickly, Morriss's wife ran down to the first row of the stands and screamed at him to change QBs. Too late and we lost to go 4-6 and miss a bowl, but we beat OkSt the following week.

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Ah yes Missouri. Thanks for clarifying. I had never heard about Morris' wife being the catalyst behind the change. Perhaps we'd have been better with her on the sidelines.

boykin_spaniel said:

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Some of this on Spav. The OL is sucking you need to do some rollouts/bootlegs. Not 5 step drops and vanilla run plays. Zero creativity besides one speed option play.

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Some? How about all.

Timbear said:

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boykin_spaniel said:

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Some of this on Spav. The OL is sucking you need to do some rollouts/bootlegs. Not 5 step drops and vanilla run plays. Zero creativity besides one speed option play.

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Some? How about all.

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Does fencepost to get a total walk?

Guitarbiscuit said:

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whitetrash said:

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Guitarbiscuit said:

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EatMoreSalmon said:

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Robert Wilson said:

---

Mitch Henessey said:

---

Space Cutter said:

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If a coach communicates with his starting QB then making a switch is seen as a positive with a desire to WIN.

Lagway needs to be told if his accuracy and decisions aren't getting the job done then he will be pulled so he can see the game for a few series then consider letting him back in the game. But if the replacement QB is making it happen then we will have a competition for the starting QB job.

Don't worry Amanda won't do it. Coach Briles did that a couple of times to help his starter.

---

When did Briles ever pull a starter for reasons other than injury? I am wracking my brain and I honestly cannot think of a single instance.

---

Cab's very first game … he started Kirby Freeman, eventually jerked him for RG3, and the rest is history

---

Yep.

---

You're right. Baylor, and most college coaches really, are hesitant to pull starters. One notable time I recall is way back in either 2004 or 2005. Guy Morris was coach. I think we were playing OK State. I don't recall the qb at the time, but most knew the backup Bell was better. Sometime late in the game, Morris made the change. And Bell closed the gap. Unfortunately he was put in too late to win that one, but he did complete one of Baylor's greatest upsets against A&M that year.

---

2005 @Mizzou. A win would have put us in position to be bowl eligible. GuyMo started Jermaine Alfred over Shawn Bell. The story I heard was that after we fell behind so far so quickly, Morriss's wife ran down to the first row of the stands and screamed at him to change QBs. Too late and we lost to go 4-6 and miss a bowl, but we beat OkSt the following week.

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Ah yes Missouri. Thanks for clarifying. I had never heard about Morris' wife being the catalyst behind the change. Perhaps we'd have been better with her on the sidelines.

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At a UT game I road up the elevator with her. We went to the press box. In that short moment I found out she was a pistol.

baylorrific said:

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Bennett is better than Lagway; Robertson was better than Finn. I guaranty you that all that was known before each season started. Sad that Aranda can't pull the trigger until essentially forced to. It would show leadership were Aranda to start the best. And the money spent on Lagway is (and Finn was) a lost cost that should not factor into the decision to make a change.

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In all seriousness, I'd really like to know where this belief that Bennett is better than Lagway comes from?

Because I seem to recall this same board going into full panic mode when he stunk it up against Prairie View.

Not sure one decent outing against a Sun Belt squad is enough to suddenly anoint the backup QB as the savior.

The way some are talking, one would think we had Trevor Lawrence waiting his turn on the bench.

The fact remains that Lagway is significantly better than Bennett.

That shouldn't even be up for discussion.

Now with that said, there may be a time here or there where you give Bennett a few package plays to work with IF Lagway's injury is still a hinderance (think what OU did back in the day when they had Blake Bell run plays down near the goal-line).

But unless Lagway is limited (physically), you roll with him, as he gives you the best chance to win.

LTBear19 said:

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baylorrific said:

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Bennett is better than Lagway; Robertson was better than Finn. I guaranty you that all that was known before each season started. Sad that Aranda can't pull the trigger until essentially forced to. It would show leadership were Aranda to start the best. And the money spent on Lagway is (and Finn was) a lost cost that should not factor into the decision to make a change.

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In all seriousness, I'd really like to know where this belief that Bennett is better than Lagway comes from?

Because I seem to recall this same board going into full panic mode when he stunk it up against Prairie View.

Not sure one decent outing against a Sun Belt squad is enough to suddenly anoint the backup QB as the savior.

The way some are talking, one would think we had Trevor Lawrence waiting his turn on the bench.

The fact remains that Lagway is significantly better than Bennett.

That shouldn't even be up for discussion.

Now with that said, there may be a time here or there where you give Bennett a few package plays to work with IF Lagway's injury is still a hinderance (think what OU did back in the day when they had Blake Bell run plays down near the goal-line).

But unless Lagway is limited (physically), you roll with him, as he gives you the best chance to win.

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The backup quarterback is always everybody's favorite player. Bennett had the benefit of playing a glorified high school and then a terrible G5 opponent that was playing their backup quarterback. Lagway is not a good quarterback, but in his defense, he looked good playing a terrible defense as well

If we played Bennett, I suspect he would look worse, but confirmation bias would make people think he's better (ie, "he was 'making good reads', but wide receivers weren't wide open and offensive line didn't give him eight seconds to throw" etc etc)

None of this is a defense of lagway - I don't think he's terrible, but he is a very average (at best) quarterback that we're vastly overpaying