Dave Aranda highlights ‘hunger’ Baylor brings into 2025 season

Baylor returned to form last season following a disappointing 3-9 2023, going 8-5 with a loss to LSU in the Texas Bowl. The Bears are entering the sixth year of the Dave Aranda era in Waco, where he’s led them to a 31-30 (21-24) record.

Aranda spoke at this week’s Big 12 Media Days, where he discussed the hunger that Baylor is bringing into the 2025 season.

“I think there’s a confidence in this team,” Aranda said. “I think previously, there would be things that we would talk about. There would be things like ‘here’s a practice clip’ or here is an example of it kinda happening somewhere else at some other school, and for our team (returners) to have gone through it and in big moments accomplish the thing that they set out to do… to make the play or to be in position and knock the ball down or get a sack or make a touchdown or whatever it is, there’s a grounded confidence now and it’s a whole different way of being. Where prior, you’re trying to prove it and show it.”

This season, Baylor returns starting quarterback Sawyer Robertson along with its two leading rushers Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass. Robertson’s leading receivers Josh Cameron and Ashtyn Hawkins also return, setting up what could be a Big 12 contending team. Four of Baylor‘s leading tacklers are also back in the green and yellow.

“I think it’s good to be so focused on what you’re doing and to be so maniacal about getting better and getting it right,” Aranda continued. “You go so hard on yourself that it pushes others to be hard on themselves. I would much rather it be so inward focusing that way than focused on what other people think or what other people are thinking and all that. So I think from my seat with this team, there’s been a great emphasis on what’s been happening on the inside. So I’d like to continue to push that and see how far we can push that.”

Baylor‘s best season under Aranda came back in 2021, when it posted a 12-2 record and downed Ole Miss 21-7 in the Sugar Bowl. The Bears finished ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll Rankings. They started the 2024 season with a 2-6 record, but Aranda led them to a 6-1 record in its final seven games to finish at 8-5.