College Football Preview 2025: Baylor Bears

With an improving offense led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson, Baylor's prospects for the upcoming season could lead punters to consider betting on the over for their projected win total, especially if the defense shows signs of improvement.

Head Coach: Dave Aranda (Sixth season) 2024 Record: 8-5 (Lost Texas Bowl) Strength of Schedule: 48th PFF Projected Win Total: 7.2 FanDuel Win Total: 7.5

2024 Recap After back-to-back losing campaigns, including just a 3-9 record in 2023, head coach Dave Aranda likely felt his seat getting warmer entering 2024. He was able to cool it off by leading Baylor to an 8-5 record this past season.

The Bears’ offense was the biggest catalyst for their success, placing among the 25 highest-graded units in the nation. That group should remain a strength in 2025, thanks to the return of quarterback Sawyer Robertson and a terrific duo of running backs in Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass.

Aranda will need to fix a defense that placed just 101st in EPA per pass for his program to take the next step, though.

Biggest Strength: Potentially the best backfield in the Big 12 Sawyer Robertson is one of the better quarterbacks in the Big 12, placing fifth in the conference with a 74.8 PFF passing grade in 2024. He’ll also have the conference’s best running back unit to rely on.

Biggest Weakness: Pass defense Baylor had issues with opposing passing attacks last year. The Bears ranked just 116th in team PFF coverage grade and 111th in team PFF pass-rush grade.

Making matters worse is the fact that the Bears lost their top-two coverage defenders (Lorando Johnson and Devin Lemear) and both of their starting edge rushers, Steve Linton and Garmon Randolph. ```

Led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson, Baylor is poised to feature one of the Big 12's best offenses in 2025.

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