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Losing to Kansas was the straw that broke the camel's back for Dave Aranda at Baylor

Let's face it, Kansas football isn't good, so losing to the Jayhawks was enough for Baylor to kick Dave Aranda to the curb.
ByEricka Brockish
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Oct 24, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Following the loss to in-state rival Kansas State a week ago, the Jayhawks bounced back against a Baylor squad that was hanging on by a thread. Well, that thread officially snapped after the Bears handed Kansas its first win in Big 12 play, and Baylor chose to part ways with head coach Dave Aranda.

Aranda became the third head coach of the season to be fired, following Maryland's Mike Locksley last week and NC State's Dave Doeren on Saturday. This really comes as no surprise. Aranda was already on the hot seat going into the season, but after putting too much faith in transfer quarterback DJ Lagway, the Bears ultimately decided they couldn't find success with this staff.

Lance Leipold could be the next Big 12 coach out of a job

It looked like the Lance Leipold era would be different at Kansas. After years and years of horrific play on the football field and fans simply biding their time until basketball season rolled around, Leipold brought a sliver of hope to a historically bad program.

Well, that hope didn't last too long, as the Jayhawks have steadily gotten worse each season since 2023, when the Jayhawks went 9-4. Kansas had back-to-back 5-7 seasons, missed bowl games, and now sit at 3-4 with only one win in Big 12 play.

This doesn't bode well for Leipold, who was already starting to feel his seat warm up at the start of the season. The Jayhawks will be lucky to get another win in Big 12 play, with their best opportunity coming up this weekend heading to TCU. After that, KU has UCF, who just took down No. 2 BYU in Orlando, a high-flying West Virginia offense, No. 8 BYU, and No. 24 Oklahoma State.

That could result in a 3-9 season, possibly a 4-8 season if Kansas can find a way to get a win in Fort Worth. Leipold might have to face the music at the end of the season, especially with a weak recruiting class coming in.

The Big 12 is only getting stronger, and with the Jayhawks spending more money on basketball, obviously, than football, a change at head coach might be the only answer to see some success on the football field.

Leipold's buyout is still fairly high, even after this season, sitting at roughly $17.9 million, which the Jayhawks may not want to pay. If Kansas chooses to keep Leipold around, seasons like this are more and more probable.

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