Could Baylor Be 'Playoff Crashers' This Season?
The Baylor Bears were crowned Big 12 and Sugar Bowl champions this past season, which is about as close as a team can get to making its claim for the College Football Playoff. And in a game that has been transformed by the transfer portal and NIL, a team like Baylor could be on the verge of having a chance at "crashing" into the final four teams remaining this upcoming season.
247Sports formed a list of 10 potential teams that could "crash the playoff in 2022." The Bears were included along with teams like Houston, Wake Forest, Texas, BYU, USC, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
Baylor secured a 12-2 record this past season. As a result, media outlets across the nation have increasingly high expectations for Aranda and Co. heading into next season.
Most recently, Baylor found itself with high marks in yet another way-too-early top-25 poll, this time, from CBS Sports.
Here is what CBS had to say about the Bears:
5. Baylor
Let's not dismiss the defending Big 12 champions. The Bears beat Texas and Oklahoma last season by a combined 20 points. Dave Aranda is one of the deepest thinkers in college football. Remember his field goal with 3 seconds left against Oklahoma up 10? He had somehow thought ahead to a potential Big 12 tiebreaker. Aranda also named his quarterback starter after the spring. Unconventional? Sure, but that allowed last year's starter Gerry Bohanon to transfer. Told you Aranda was a deep thinker. Way-too-early ranking: 6
While the nation wouldn’t see it as a huge surprise if Baylor qualifies for the playoff given the success the team had last season, the Bears’ qualification would be historical for a program that was just 2-7 in 2020.
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Baylor Bears? Click Here
Follow Inside the Bears on Twitter
Follow Inside the Bears on Facebook
