Athlon Sports predicts Baylor's spot in the final 2020 Big 12 standings
A drop off in results after from competing head-to-head with Oklahoma in the 2019 Big 12 Championship game has been expected for Baylor. The Bears lost 10 starters from their defense a year ago, arguably their best running back and best receiver, and the starting center from their offensive line.
Oh, and they are replacing Matt Rhule, their former head coach who is now one of the highest paid coaches in the NFL.
But believe it or not, there is still some cache with the Baylor program as 2020 is on the horizon with Dave Aranda entering his first year as the head coach of the Bears. The former LSU defensive coordinator—a national championship winning defensive coordinator—has manageable expectations in front of him in from the fan base that just saw the best decade of football played in Waco ever.
Five times the Bears won at least 10 games from 2010-2019 including 10 wins in 2011 and 2015 and 11 wins in 2013, 2014 and 2019. That was highlighted by back-to-back Big 12 Championships in ‘13 and ‘14.
For 2020, however, Baylor remaining in the top half of the league could mean expectations were met or even exceeded. After the significant losses all around for the 11-win team a year ago, Athlon Sports have the Bears finishing fifth in the league.
5. Baylor
Dave Aranda was a strong hire to replace Matt Rhule, and the former LSU defensive coordinator inherits one of the league's top quarterbacks in Charlie Brewer. The Bears still need improvement up front after allowing 38 sacks last fall, and go-to receiver Denzel Mims must be replaced. The bigger concerns for this team reside on defense. Baylor led the Big 12 in scoring defense (19.8 ppg), but this group brings back just two starters - a rebuilding effort made tougher by the cancellation of spring practice. The Bears could be in for some regression after five games by one score and recording a plus-11 turnover margin last fall.
Earlier this summer Athlon Sports called Baylor the No. 27 team in the country for the 2020 season and summarized their feelings on the Bears by saying this:
The Bears will have some ground to make up after having spring football canceled by COVID-19. Look for a step back with the inexperience on defense, but Brewer has enough weapons on offense to get this team back in a bowl for the third straight year.
Athlon Sports Big 12 Preseason Predictions
1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma State
3. Texas
4. Iowa State
5. Baylor
6. TCU
7. Kansas State
8. West Virginia
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas