44 Days till Kickoff: 44 turnovers forced under Dave Aranda

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In the two years that Dave Aranda has been at the helm of the Baylor program, his defense has forced 44 turnovers. 31 of those 44 turnovers being interceptions, and 13 being fumble recoveries.

In 2021, the Bears’ had the third-best turnover margin in the FBS (+14) and were tied for the second most interceptions in the country with 19. Baylor started the season getting three interceptions against Texas State, including a 20-yard pick-six from JT Woods. BU then went on to get at least one fumble recovery in each of the games against Texas Southern, Kansas, BYU, TCU, Kansas State, and Texas Tech. The defense added at least one interception in the games against Iowa State, West Virginia, Texas, and Kansas State as well.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

JT Woods returning an interception in the Big 12 Championship Game.

In the upset victory over No. 8 Oklahoma, the Bears picked off star freshman Caleb Williams twice. The defense also wreaked havoc against OSU’s Spencer Sanders. Most have mixed opinions on Sanders, but no one can deny that Baylor is his kryptonite. The Pokes QB threw a combined seven interceptions to the Bears’ defense in 2021. I can’t find the exact information anywhere, but that has to be a record of some sort. BU finished out the season, picking off the Ole Miss QBs three separate times in the Sugar Bowl win. Fun fact, after the ten-sack performance in the Sugar Bowl, the Baylor defense finished the year with 44 sacks, two shy of the 2019 single-season program record. 

In the shortened 2020 season, the Bears recovered five fumbles and totaled twelve interceptions. Despite the close losses to West Virginia and Iowa State, Baylor combined to force eight turnovers in those games, including a Jalen Pitre pick-six against the Cyclones. Pitre had another pick-six in the one-point loss to Texas Tech, and the Green and Gold also had two picks in the victory over Kansas State and the blowout loss to Oklahoma State. 

Over that two-year span, JT Woods attributed to 20% of the 44 turnovers, collecting nine interceptions and a fumble recovery. Jalen Pitre wasn’t too far behind with four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.