Baylor Bears

Baylor opened 2026 with a gut-wrenching 17-16 loss to Auburn in Atlanta, a game decided when Eric Winters stopped tight end Matthew Klopfenstein short of the end zone on a two-point conversion with nine seconds left. DJ Lagway, the Florida transfer and son of a former Baylor running back, threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, including a 154-yard connection with Gavin Freeman, but also lost a fumble and threw an interception early. The Bears went for it on fourth down five times, converting three, a reflection of Dave Aranda's aggressive philosophy that ranked third nationally in fourth-down attempts last season. The loss stings, but the narrow margin against an SEC opponent suggests this team can compete when it limits self-inflicted errors.

In his first start for Baylor, Lagway attempted 54 passes, completing 27 for 333 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He showed the arm talent that made him a five-star recruit, especially on the final drive when he hit Freeman on a 27-yard fourth-down conversion and then a 5-yard touchdown. But his first three drives produced a fumble, an interception, and a missed field goal, allowing Auburn to build an early lead. Lagway's ability to push the ball downfield is clear, but his decision-making under pressure will be tested as the season progresses, especially behind an offensive line that returned only one starter from last year.

First-year defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman's attacking scheme, built around havoc rate and pressure, had mixed results against Auburn. The Bears forced three interceptions from Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown, but they also allowed 259 passing yards and a 15-yard rushing touchdown to Jeremiah Cobb. The front seven, bolstered by transfers like Hosea Wheeler, Jamaal Whyce Jr., Ryan Davis, Garrick Ponder, and Kedrick Walker, generated pressure at times but couldn't get off the field on Auburn's game-winning 10-play, 75-yard drive. The defense's ability to create turnovers is a positive sign, but consistency against the run and in late-game situations remains a concern, echoing last season's struggles.

Baylor's special teams were a mixed bag in Week 1. Sophomore kicker Rhett Armstrong, making his first career field goal attempt, missed a kick in the first half, a miss that proved costly in a one-point game. The Bears also failed on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game. On the positive side, punter Palmer Williams, a Ray Guy Award finalist last year, remains a weapon, and the return game is still an open competition. With a defense that can force turnovers and an offense that can move the ball, Baylor's margin for error is thin, and every missed point on special teams or in the red zone could be the difference between a win and a loss.

This is a do-or-die season for head coach Dave Aranda, who was retained for a seventh year amid athletic director turnover. The Bears' narrow loss to Auburn, a game they could have won, only heightens the urgency. Aranda has handed defensive play-calling duties to Klanderman, but the team's identity is still forming. The schedule ahead includes a home game against FCS opponent Prairie View A&M, which should provide a chance to regroup and build confidence. But the real test will come in Big 12 play, where Baylor must show it can sustain the defensive intensity and offensive efficiency it displayed in flashes against Auburn. Consistency, not talent, is the biggest question mark for this team.