Calling for Joey McGuire’s dismissal after a loss to Cincinnati is an overreaction that ignores the measurable progress he has delivered and is mind boggling that people even have the thought of it. McGuire was hired in November 2021 and has compiled a 35–18 record through four full seasons (2022–2025). In 2025 the Red Raiders finished 12–2, won the program’s first outright conference championship since 1955, and earned the first College Football Playoff appearance in school history. Those results exceed any single-season peak Mike Leach achieved at Texas Tech. His best was 11–2 with a Big 12 South division title in 2008. Leach’s ten-year record of 84–43 (.661) remains the program standard for longevity, yet McGuire has already produced a higher single-season win total, a conference title Leach never captured, and a CFP berth in roughly half the time. The post-Leach era from 2010 through 2021 produced no conference championships, only intermittent bowl eligibility, and multiple coaching changes. McGuire has reversed that pattern by securing a bowl berth in every season and recording at least five Big 12 wins in each of his first four years, the only coach in program history to do so. He has also generated a consistent recruiting and transfer pipeline, evidenced by multiple top-ranked portal classes and a school-record nine NFL Draft selections in 2026. A single loss does not erase a 2025 campaign that ranked among the most dominant in recent college football, with all 12 wins by 20 or more points, or the structural foundation now in place. McGuire has been retained through 2032 precisely because the program has moved from mid-tier consistency to conference and national relevance. Sustained evaluation of the 2026 season and the incoming classes of 2027–2029 will provide a clearer measure of whether that foundation continues to produce results

Baylor defense, P4 ranks (of 68) thru Week 8: 5th - Sack rate 8th - TD rate on trips inside the 40 9th - Avg 3rd-down distance forced 14th - Yards/play allowed 15th - Points/game allowed 15th - Points/drive allowed 20th - Explosives allowed 44th - Opp starting field position

Dave Aranda is out as Baylor's coach, less than five years after a Big 12 title and a No. 5 finish. Who could be next to replace him in Waco? Plus, the key roster and recruiting retention efforts. @max_olson, @ByEliLederman and I take a look at the Baylor situation. espn.com/college-football/st…

I’m curious to see if the mentality changes with this team since it’s now an outlaw season No upside other than pure chaos Could be fun

Thoughts on Dave Aranda’s firing.. - This 100% needed to happen after yesterday and good to see Doug McNamee moving quickly. - Baylor gets a head start on the coaching carousel. - Joe Klanderman should get this team to fight to the finish. #SicEm 🐻

There it is. Thank you for your service, Dave. 2021 was special. Onward & upward 🚀

Sources: Baylor has fired coach Dave Aranda.

Kinda crazy how apathetic I feel about the Baylor game today. Really depressing feeling. Feel like I’ve been crushed by this team so many times the last 5 years that it’s irresponsible for my emotional wellbeing to let it happen again unless something changes 🙃

I’m hearing from trustworthy people that Dave Aranda will not be fired until the conclusion of the season. This is quite disappointing.

🚨BEAR DOWN TIME🚨 w/ @Lance_Smith25 & @mcbaylor Dave loses again. Doomsday scenario. What happens now? Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3wL… YouTube: youtu.be/GcX6fyfifUE?is=VyVa…