Baylor Defense Better in 2026 Than Last Year?

The players seem to think so, the coaches seem to think so, but how will they stack up against last year's squad?

Nov 22, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Baylor Bears safety Micah Gifford (24) against the Arizona Wildcats at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Crazy good," is how Safety Micah Gifford rates Baylor's defense this year, he said during a recent press scrum where he, Coach Aranda, Kyler Jordan, and Michael Allen all also fielded questions. Noting several times throughout his answers that "it feels like a brotherhood," and, "everyone's just having fun, really." All smiles and exuding positivity as Gifford answered the reporter's questions.

Only time will tell what the future holds in store for this year's defensive squad for Baylor. There are fresh faces, including new players and new coaches, and the lack of some familiar faces from last season.

Coach Dave Aranda's "person-over-player" culture however, remains intact, and as Gifford would also say, "We learned to play as a brotherhood," eventually emphasizing the importance of, "doing your 1/11th every single play."

How did the Defense Rank Last Season?

Oct 15, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; The Baylor and Big 12 logos on an end zone pylon during a game between the Bears and the Kansas Jayhawks at McLane Stadium. Baylor won 49-7. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Giving up the 5th most total yards to opposing offenses, and the 2nd most rushing yards in the entire Big 12 last season has certainly left plenty of room for improvement. It should be note-worthy that the Baylor defense ranked substantially better at stopping the pass last season, allowing the 4th fewest in the conference. It should be. When coupled with their difficulties at stopping the opposing running game last year however, the praise is unfortunately faint at best.

Being able to stop the pass in a pass-heavy conference like the Big 12 is certainly important. There's no mistake to be made there; and with Gifford playing safety, he and his fellow teammates should be able to hold their own against the league's best.

However, if the ability to stop the run hasn't improved, all of the talent Baylor went out and landed in the secondary won't get the amount of attention it deserves. If the defensive line can't avoid being gashed for big yardage by standard runs up the middle, or the true danger of a mobile quarterbacks. And the moment defensive backs have to start trying to also stop the run is the exact moment that coverages and assignments get blown, and a big play happens.

A lot of Empty to Refill:

Sep 6, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; A view of the empty stands and rain water draining before the game between the Baylor Bears and the Northwestern State Demons at McLane Stadium. The start of the game is under weather delay due to lightning. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In the bleachers shown above, each bleacher could sit two players each that didn't return this season, and might not fit all of the players who either left through graduation or the transfer portal between the end of last season and now. Between 28 and 32 players from last season are no longer with the Baylor Bears.

The fact that Gifford spoke so highly of how bonded the team seems to be though (at least in his eyes), should bring hope to all Baylor fans. It would be easy for the players to see the switch around of thirty players from last season to now as absolutely chaotic, but if this presser was anything to go on, they seem to all be taking it in stride.

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