NCAA College Football: Last Season in Review –Baylor Bears’ Late-Season Surge

Midway through 2024, Baylor looked finished. They were 2-6, bowl eligibility seemed out of reach, and Dave Aranda’s job security was the hottest topic in Waco. The offense was stalled, the defense was leaking points, and the team looked like it had checked out.

Then, something flipped.

The Bears won three of their final four games, finished 5-7, and snuck into a bowl as a replacement due to APR eligibility. They won that bowl game convincingly. The final record? 6-7. Not impressive on the surface, but the story behind it paints a different picture: a program that refused to fold, found an identity, and may have just saved its head coach’s job.

From Rock Bottom to a Pulse

The lowest point came after a 38-10 loss to UCF. The crowd was sparse, the players looked disengaged, and the locker room buzz was bleak. But internally, the staff made two key changes: simplify the offensive scheme and start leaning into the run.

Suddenly, the Bears started playing with urgency. The offensive line improved. Richard Reese found his rhythm in the backfield. And freshman QB Sawyer Robertson began to settle in, showing glimpses of control and decision-making the staff had been waiting for.

A Defensive Rebound

The defense, torched early in the season, tightened up down the stretch. Baylor allowed just 21 points per game over their final four contests, after giving up over 34 per game before that. The pass rush started landing. Linebackers played faster. And most importantly, they started getting stops on third down.

This wasn’t a dominant unit — but it finally stopped being a liability.

Aranda’s Seat Cools — for Now

Dave Aranda entered November with one foot out the door. By season’s end, he had rebuilt some trust. His players never quit on him. His staff made adjustments. And he showed he could guide a turnaround when it mattered.

Whether it’s sustainable remains to be seen. But for now, Aranda lives to fight another year.

What It Means for 2025

Baylor has momentum heading into 2025, but they’ll need to build on it fast. The margin for error is gone. The offense still needs playmakers. The defense needs depth. And the Big 12, while wide open, is filled with teams that got better while Baylor played catch-up.

From a betting angle, Baylor could be dangerous as an early-season underdog — especially if their defense continues to improve. But tread lightly until we see if that late surge was a true step forward or just a brief spark in a chaotic season.