This week in Waco, there was a significant turn of events: Mack Rhoades resigned as CFP Chair and also stepped away from his role at the University temporarily, having served as Athletics Director for Baylor. The reasoning was personal; multiple reports confirmed that it was due to an incident isolated from the Athletics department. Saturday night isn't looking any brighter.
Baylor has a tough decision to make on Dave Aranda
The Bears entered the game at 5-4, but miscues on defense and an inconsistent attack gave Utah enough breathing room to control the tempo throughout the game at McLane Stadium. Utah opened the game with a 28-17 lead at the half.
The performance intensifies questions surrounding the future of head coach Dave Aranda, whose buyout reportedly exceeds $12 million, according to multiple sources. However, the specifics remain undisclosed due to Baylor's status as a private university.
Aranda signed an extension in February 2022, keeping him under contract through 2029 with an annual salary of more than $4.7 million, before bonuses. Any early termination would likely trigger a buyout payment spanning several years, with clauses reducing the total if Aranda finds another coaching job—a common feature among major college football contracts.
The decision to move on from Aranda is a complex one. Although it would most likely be made by the Athletics Director, with Rhoades on a leave of absence, the University has yet to announce any interim replacement. The second-in-command is listed on the athletics website as Jovan Overshown. Still, there is no official indication from the University that supports her as the one tasked with determining Aranda's future, as the Bears look to improve and avoid a season without a bowl game.
If Baylor continues on its current trajectory, according to ESPN analytics, the season could end with a record of 6-7, with losses against Utah and Arizona, and a win to end the season in Houston. It might just be time to close up shop. As the legend says, turn out the lights, the parties are over. The question is, will Aranda be back? Only time will tell.
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