Baylor, Notre Dame coaching staffs share near connection

The Baylor Bears share a pretty unique coaching connection with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With all the movement on the coaching carousel this season, there are many different kinds of connections between college football teams.

Baylor Bears chief of staff Dennis Polian is the brother of Notre Dame’s special team’s coordinator Brian Polian. The two brothers are two of four kids from former NFL executive Bill Polian. And Dennis’ squad just might have given his brother the best Christmas gift he could ask for this year, a Notre Dame College Football Playoff berth.

Notre Dame entered this week ranked sixth, which is just one spot behind Oklahoma State. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, they do not have a conference championship game this weekend and need help to make it to the College Football Playoff. The Irish need two of the teams in the top four, not named Georgia, to fall this weekend, along with an Oklahoma State loss. And with the Baylor win earlier on Saturday, they are now one step closer to a College Football Playoff appearance.

Aranda on Baylor and the CFP

For Baylor coach Dave Aranda, he’s not worried about where his team falls in the rankings. He just wants his group to show up and play ball — wherever and whenever that may be.

“We try our very best to handle to stuff we can control,” Aranda told ABC sideline reporter Molly McGrath after the game. “There’s been two games so far this year, really almost three where we struggled with that. So I think just the stuff that’s lined up in front of us – whatever it is – we’re going to do our best to show up and be us.”

It was quite an effort from Baylor, notably quarterback Blake Shapen. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bears’ offensive attack.

Shapen’s success was essential for the Bears, who fell victim to Oklahoma’s rushing defense — the best in the Big 12 this season. Abram Smith led Baylor with 17 carries for 63 yards, but not much else happened for the Bears on the ground.

Oklahoma State was without a key weapon in the game. Running back Jaylen Warren has been dealing with a lower leg injury and was ruled out for the game by coach Mike Gundy at halftime. The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Warren has been dealing with an ankle injury.