Is Baylor's Dave Aranda A Top 10 Coach In College Football?
As Baylor prepares for the 2022 season, expectations are at an all-time high. Fans should be enjoying the newfound success under third-year coach Dave Aranda.
Arnada's name was thrown around for multiple seasons in terms of becoming a head coach. After a stint with LSU and winning a national title in 2019, Baylor made him an offer he couldn't refuse following the departure of Matt Rhule.
Two years later, the Bears are one of the hottest teams and Aranda is considered a rising coach in the sport. His ability to lead sold Baylor's athletic staff on his resume. Then Aranda's ability to win grabbed him a new seven-year extension.
CBS Sports recently came out with its top 50 coaches for the 2022 season. And while Aranda wasn't pushed inside the top 10, he'll gladly take No. 11 after two years in Waco.
Meet the greatest climber in CBS Sports Power Five Coach Rankings history. Aranda was ranked 62nd last year and climbed an astounding 51 places after winning the Big 12 and getting the Bears to the Sugar Bowl. Do I think this is too steep a climb for one season? Yes, of course. But I don't blame my fellow voters for buying in. There's plenty of reason to think the 2021 season wasn't a fluke. That said, the kind of volatility we see in this ranking usually results in some regression, so I won't be surprised if Aranda is closer to 20 than 10 in next year's rankings. 2021 rank: 62 (+51)
Moving up 51 spots from the 2021 rankings, Arnada proved his first season was nothing more than a fluke. The Bears finished 2-7 in a COVID-19 season in large part due to the limitations set by the NCAA. Aranda had weeks to prepare and the results spoke for themselves.
Last season, Baylor finished with its first 12-win season in program history, defeating teams such as Texas, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 14 Iowa State, and No. 19 BYU. Getting revenge on Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game, the Bears prevailed to win their first conference championship since 2014.
Only one other Big 12 coach was considered to be a stronger option than Aranda. Oklahoma's State Mike Gundy's experience in Stillwater gave him the slight nod at No. 10. During his 17-year run as the Cowboys' coach, he's posted a 149-69 record.
Aranda has gone 14-9 in his two seasons with Baylor. The Bears open the season at home against Albany on Sept. 3.
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