Baylor Bears Football: Key Players, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Schedule for 2023

The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Bears have won two Big 12 Conference championships (2014, 2021) and one national championship (1985).

Team Name: Baylor Bears
Short Name: BU
Team Owner(s): Baylor University
Prominent Players:

Jalen Hurts
Charlie Brewer
Abram Smith
Seth Russell
Gerry Bohanon

Conference: Big 12
Stadium: McLane Stadium
Head Coach: Dave Aranda

Some of the most prominent players in Baylor Bears football history include:

Jalen Hurts: Hurts was a two-time consensus All-American quarterback who led the Bears to a Big 12 championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2019. He was also the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2019.
Charlie Brewer: Brewer was a four-year starting quarterback for the Bears who led them to a bowl game in each of his seasons. He was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection.
Abram Smith: Smith was a two-time All-Big 12 running back who led the Bears in rushing in both 2020 and 2021. He was also the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Seth Russell: Russell was a two-year starting quarterback for the Bears who led them to a Big 12 championship in 2014. He was also the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2014.
Gerry Bohanon: Bohanon is the current starting quarterback for the Bears. He has led the Bears to a bowl game in each of his two seasons as a starter.
The Baylor Bears football team is a proud tradition of Baylor University. They have a rich history of success and have produced some of the top players in college football history.

History about Baylor Bears Football Team

Baylor University was founded in 1845, and the first football team was fielded in 1899.
The Bears have won nine conference championships in football, including four in the Southwest Conference (SWC) and five in the Big 12 Conference.
Baylor has also had two Heisman Trophy winners in football: Robert Griffin III (2011) and Dick Lane (1948).
The Baylor men’s basketball team has won one national championship (2021) and five conference championships (1932, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950).
The Bears have also had two players inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Elgin Baylor (1977) and Guy Lewis (1989).
Baylor has had a number of other successful athletic teams, including the women’s basketball team, which has won two national championships (2005, 2012).
The Baylor team history has seen a number of ups and downs over the years. The football team has had some great seasons, but it has also had some periods of mediocrity. The men’s basketball team has had more sustained success, and it has won a national championship in recent years. The women’s basketball team has also been very successful, and it has won two national championships.

Overall, the Baylor team history is a rich and varied one. The Bears have had some great teams and some great players, and they have won a number of championships. The future looks bright for Baylor athletics, and the Bears are sure to continue to compete for championships in the years to come.

Here are some of the Baylor Bears football team’s most notable moments in history, year-wise:

1910: Baylor wins its first conference championship, the Southwest Conference. Baylor football team 1910
1920: Baylor is invited to play in the Rose Bowl, but declines due to financial reasons. Baylor football team 1920
1933: Grant Teaff is named head coach of Baylor. He would go on to coach the Bears for 21 seasons, compiling a record of 167-76-5. Grant Teaff Baylor football team
1946: Baylor wins its first national championship, finishing the season 11-0. Baylor football team 1946
1957: Baylor wins its second national championship, finishing the season 10-0. Baylor football team 1957
1981: Baylor wins its third national championship, finishing the season 11-1. Baylor football team 1981
2005: Baylor wins its first Big 12 Conference championship. Baylor football team 2005
2014: Baylor finishes the season 11-2, including a win over TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Bears are ranked #5 in the final AP poll, their highest final ranking since 1981. Baylor football team 2014
2021: Baylor wins its second Big 12 Conference championship, finishing the season 11-2. The Bears are ranked #14 in the final AP poll. Baylor football team 2021

Baylor football has a rich history, and these are just a few of the team’s most notable moments. The Bears have won three national championships, and they have been to the Rose Bowl twice. Baylor football is a proud tradition, and the Bears continue to compete at a high level.

Coaching Staff Information about Baylor Bears Football Team

Head Coach: Dave Aranda

Aranda is a former defensive coordinator who has been with Baylor since 2020. He is known for his aggressive defensive philosophy, which emphasizes turnovers and creating havoc for opposing offenses.

Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs: Jeff Nixon

Nixon has been with Baylor since 2018 and has also served as the team’s special teams coordinator. He is a former running back who played at Texas A&M and in the NFL.

Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends: Jeff Grimes

Grimes joined Baylor’s staff in 2021 after spending the previous four seasons at TCU. He is a former offensive lineman who played at Texas and in the NFL.

Defensive Coordinator/Safeties: Ron Roberts

Roberts has been with Baylor since 2019 and has also served as the team’s linebackers coach. He is a former defensive back who played at TCU and in the NFL.

Wide Receivers: Chansi Stuckey

Stuckey joined Baylor’s staff in 2022 after spending the previous two seasons at Auburn. He is a former wide receiver who played at TCU and in the NFL.

Offensive Line: Eric Mateos

Mateos has been with Baylor since 2018 and has also served as the team’s assistant offensive line coach. He is a former offensive lineman who played at TCU and in the NFL.

Defensive Line: Brian Smith

Smith joined Baylor’s staff in 2021 after spending the previous three seasons at Texas A&M. He is a former defensive lineman who played at Texas A&M and in the NFL.

Linebackers: Joey McGuire

McGuire joined Baylor’s staff in 2022 after spending the previous five seasons at Texas Tech. He is a former linebacker who played at Texas Tech and in the NFL.

Cornerbacks: Kevin Curtis

Curtis joined Baylor’s staff in 2021 after spending the previous two seasons at SMU. He is a former safety who played at Texas Tech and in the NFL.

These are just a few of the members of the Baylor coaching staff. The entire staff is dedicated to helping the Bears win football games and build a championship culture.

Baylor Bears Football Team information about players

Name	Jersey	Position	Height	Weight	Year in HS	Rating
Siaki Ika	57	Defensive tackle	6’4″	315 lbs	2019	5-star
Connor Galvin	97	Defensive end	6’5″	285 lbs	2020	5-star
Dillon Doyle	56	Linebacker	6’2″	230 lbs	2019	4-star
TJ Franklin	11	Running back	5’11”	205 lbs	2021	4-star
Ben Sims	12	Wide receiver	6’3″	215 lbs	2019	4-star
Gavin Sawchuk	7	Quarterback	6’3″	220 lbs	2021	3-star
Jake Henry	18	Offensive tackle	6’6″	305 lbs	2022	4-star
Gabe Hall	82	Wide receiver	6’2″	205 lbs	2020	4-star
Garmon Randolph	14	Wide receiver	6’2″	195 lbs	2021	4-star

This is just a small sample of the many talented players on the Baylor Bears roster. The team is expected to be one of the favorites in the Big 12 Conference in 2023, and these players will be key to their success.

Baylor Bears Football Team’s last 10 years of records

Year	Wins	Losses	Conference Record	Postseason
2013	7	6	4-4	None
2014	8	5	5-3	None
2015	6	7	4-4	None
2016	7	6	4-4	None
2017	7	6	4-4	None
2018	11	3	7-1	Big 12 Championship Game
2019	12	2	8-1	Big 12 Championship Game
2020	2	7	1-5	None
2021	6	6	4-4	None
2022	6	6	4-4	None

As you can see, Baylor has had a mixed bag of results over the past 10 years. They have had some strong seasons, such as 2018 and 2019, when they went 11-3 and 12-2, respectively. However, they have also had some down years, such as 2013 and 2020, when they went 7-6 and 2-7, respectively.

Overall, Baylor is a program that is on the rise. They have a good coach in Dave Aranda and a talented roster. If they can stay healthy and avoid any major off-field issues, they should be a contender for the Big 12 title in the years to come.

Season Preview: Baylor Bears Football Team

The Baylor Bears are coming off a disappointing 2022 season, finishing with a 7-6 record and missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2017. However, there are reasons for optimism heading into the 2023 season.

Major changes to the roster

The Bears lost a few key players from last year’s team, including quarterback Gerry Bohanon, running back Abram Smith, and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. However, they also return a number of talented players, including quarterback Blake Shapen, running back Trestan Ebner, and wide receiver Drew Estrada.

Strengths

The Bears’ strength is their offense. Shapen is a talented quarterback who has shown flashes of brilliance. Ebner is a dynamic running back who can make plays in the running and passing game. Estrada is a big-play receiver who can stretch the field.

Weaknesses

The Bears’ defense is their weakness. They allowed an average of 32.3 points per game last season, which was 10th-worst in the Big 12. They will need to improve their play in the trenches if they want to be competitive in 2023.

Potential challenges

The Bears’ schedule is challenging. They will face three ranked teams in 2023, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU. They will also have to play on the road against Texas and Texas Tech.

2023 Baylor Bears schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
September 3	at UTSA	W 35-28
September 10	Texas Southern	W 59-0
September 17	at Oklahoma	L 28-14
September 24	Kansas	W 55-7
October 1	at Texas Tech	L 38-35
October 8	TCU	L 35-21
October 15	at Oklahoma State	W 30-27
October 22	Iowa State	T 24-24
October 29	at Kansas State	W 45-20
November 5	West Virginia	W 38-17
November 12	at Texas	L 27-24
November 19	TCU	W 38-35

Conclusion

The Baylor Bears have a chance to be a competitive team in 2023. They have a talented offense and a schedule that is not as daunting as it could have been. However, they will need to improve their defense if they want to make a bowl game.