We're joined by Eric Kelly of KWKT-TV Fox 44 in Waco (@EricKellyTV), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (@ByZachSmith) and sports editor Brice Cherry (@BriceCherry), ready to dig into some BU and Big 12 football talk to wrap up the regular season: 

1. There will be plenty of good seats available at McLane Stadium on Saturday for the end to a lackluster, to understate it, Baylor Bears season. So we're all on Dave Aranda watch: But does this game even really factor in to that decision? Would a big win, or a big loss, actually matter to his job security?

2. There have been a lot of problem areas for the Bears, who are something like No. 68 in the nation in total offense, 108th in total defense and the special team aren't sterling, either. What area is the most obvious need for Baylor to improve the most?

3. Neal Brown at West Virginia clearly had the hottest seat coming into to the Big 12 season, but the Mountaineers are now looking like they'll go 8-4. Is he the obvious choice for Big 12 coach of the year, and it not, who? Could Mike Gundy or Matt Campbell get a look?

4. Who are your Heisman top 3? What are the pros and cons of Jaden Daniels? Is there a Big 12 dark horse? We debate it all.

----- 

Music: https://purple-planet.com

We're joined by Eric Kelly of KWKT-TV Fox 44 in Waco (<a href="https://twitter.com/EricKellyTV">@EricKellyTV</a>), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (<a href="https://twitter.com/ByZachSmith">@ByZachSmith</a>) and sports editor Brice Cherry (<a href="https://twitter.com/bricecherry">@BriceCherry</a>), ready to dig into some BU and Big 12 football talk to wrap up the regular season: 
1. There will be plenty of good seats available at McLane Stadium on Saturday for the end to a lackluster, to understate it, Baylor Bears season. So we're all on Dave Aranda watch: But does this game even really factor in to that decision? Would a big win, or a big loss, actually matter to his job security?
2. There have been a lot of problem areas for the Bears, who are something like No. 68 in the nation in total offense, 108th in total defense and the special team aren't sterling, either. What area is the most obvious need for Baylor to improve the most?
3. Neal Brown at West Virginia clearly had the hottest seat coming into to the Big 12 season, but the Mountaineers are now looking like they'll go 8-4. Is he the obvious choice for Big 12 coach of the year, and it not, who? Could Mike Gundy or Matt Campbell get a look?
4. Who are your Heisman top 3? What are the pros and cons of Jaden Daniels? Is there a Big 12 dark horse? We debate it all.
----- 
Music: https://purple-planet.com

Baylor and Big 12 football talk from the banks of the Brazos, every week with Brice Cherry and Zach Smith of the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Baylor and Big 12 football talk from the banks of the Brazos, every week with Brice Cherry and Zach Smith of the Waco Tribune-Herald.

One True Podcast: Baylor/Big 12 football

One True Podcast: WVU and Dave Aranda watch, the No. 1 Baylor problem, Heisman arguments and Big 12 coaching honors

We're joined by Texas State correspondent for the Austin American-Statesman Keff Ciardello (@Keff_C), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (@ByZachSmith) and sports editor Brice Cherry (@BriceCherry), ready to react to an eventful week of Baylor and Big 12 happenings as the season winds down.

1. Jake Spavital spent four years as the head coach at Texas State, going 13-35, but was fired after the 2022 season and has been the offensive coordinator at an improved Cal program this year. He'll now be Dave Aranda's third OC in four seasons after Jeff Grimes was unsurprisingly let go. Keff, what can you tell us about what to expect from a Spavital offense?

2. Mack Rhoades zigged where others zagged as many other coaches were fired over the last week — but Dave Aranda was not, even following a very disappointing 3-9 season. Being patient is not the norm in today's college football world, and a lot of Baylor fans are definitely unhappy. Now with Aranda under the gun, what kind of season does he need to have in 2024 to stick around for a sixth year (and beyond) in Waco?

3. The transfer portal allows teams to completely reinvent themselves from year to year. Nobody flipped their whole roster this year quite like Texas State, but how aggressive does Baylor need to be when the portal opens next week? What's the biggest area of need for the Bears?

4. The Big 12 championship game is this week with the Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma State at Jerryworld. Assuming the Longhorns win, do they crack the College Football Playoff, despite sitting No. 7 at the moment?

5. The Texas State Bobcats are going bowling after a 7-5 year, finishing tied for second in the Sun Belt. What's their likely destination in the first year under GJ Kinne?

----- 

Music: https://purple-planet.com

We're joined by Texas State correspondent for the Austin American-Statesman Keff Ciardello (<a href="https://twitter.com/Keff_C">@Keff_C</a>), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (<a href="https://twitter.com/ByZachSmith">@ByZachSmith</a>) and sports editor Brice Cherry (<a href="https://twitter.com/bricecherry">@BriceCherry</a>), ready to react to an eventful week of Baylor and Big 12 happenings as the season winds down.
1. Jake Spavital spent four years as the head coach at Texas State, going 13-35, but was fired after the 2022 season and has been the offensive coordinator at an improved Cal program this year. He'll now be Dave Aranda's third OC in four seasons after Jeff Grimes was unsurprisingly let go. Keff, what can you tell us about what to expect from a Spavital offense?
2. Mack Rhoades zigged where others zagged as many other coaches were fired over the last week — but Dave Aranda was not, even following a very disappointing 3-9 season. Being patient is not the norm in today's college football world, and a lot of Baylor fans are definitely unhappy. Now with Aranda under the gun, what kind of season does he need to have in 2024 to stick around for a sixth year (and beyond) in Waco?
3. The transfer portal allows teams to completely reinvent themselves from year to year. Nobody flipped their whole roster this year quite like Texas State, but how aggressive does Baylor need to be when the portal opens next week? What's the biggest area of need for the Bears?
4. The Big 12 championship game is this week with the Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma State at Jerryworld. Assuming the Longhorns win, do they crack the College Football Playoff, despite sitting No. 7 at the moment?
5. The Texas State Bobcats are going bowling after a 7-5 year, finishing tied for second in the Sun Belt. What's their likely destination in the first year under GJ Kinne?
----- 
Music: https://purple-planet.com

Baylor's new-look offense, Aranda's 2024 mission, desperate transfer portal needs, Texas in the CFP and more

1. This isn't exactly the rivalry game most were expecting coming into this year, with Baylor (3-7) and TCU (4-6) really not having good years, to put it mildly. Is there really any reason to watch this one at all?

2. We've talked a lot about Baylor's spiraling season, but TCU has had a pretty awful year, too, following up on last year's national title game appearance. What has gone wrong in Fort Worth and led to this erratic season for the Horned Frogs?

3. TCU may have won some close games to reach the CFP championship game last year, but Baylor is currently playing some not-so-close games. Dave Aranda always says the film is "humbling and frustrating to watch." The fans and media like us have banged on Aranda and the coaching staff plenty this year, but is it possible this version of the Bears just isn't talented enough, or doesn't have enough roster depth, to win? And how do the transfer portal and NIL play into that?

4. The big game this week is the Sunflower State Showdown, with Kansas State traveling to Kansas. The Wildcats are coming off an easy win over Baylor while the Jayhawks dropped a surprising one at home, 16-13 to Texas Tech. But it's still a big game: What's the likelihood of little-brother Kansas knocking off K-State?

5. Let's talk some Fort Worth eats: Here are our Trib traditions of can't miss-places when you head to Cowtown.

----- 

Music: https://purple-planet.com

1. This isn't exactly the rivalry game most were expecting coming into this year, with Baylor (3-7) and TCU (4-6) really not having good years, to put it mildly. Is there really any reason to watch this one at all?
2. We've talked a lot about Baylor's spiraling season, but TCU has had a pretty awful year, too, following up on last year's national title game appearance. What has gone wrong in Fort Worth and led to this erratic season for the Horned Frogs?
3. TCU may have won some close games to reach the CFP championship game last year, but Baylor is currently playing some not-so-close games. Dave Aranda always says the film is "humbling and frustrating to watch." The fans and media like us have banged on Aranda and the coaching staff plenty this year, but is it possible this version of the Bears just isn't talented enough, or doesn't have enough roster depth, to win? And how do the transfer portal and NIL play into that?
4. The big game this week is the Sunflower State Showdown, with Kansas State traveling to Kansas. The Wildcats are coming off an easy win over Baylor while the Jayhawks dropped a surprising one at home, 16-13 to Texas Tech. But it's still a big game: What's the likelihood of little-brother Kansas knocking off K-State?
5. Let's talk some Fort Worth eats: Here are our Trib traditions of can't miss-places when you head to Cowtown.
----- 
Music: https://purple-planet.com

Baylor isn't talented enough to win; plus TCU talk, Kansas-KState and Fort Worth eats

We're joined by Kansas State beat writer Tim Everson of the Manhattan Mercury (@iamtimeverson), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (@ByZachSmith), Trib alum John Werner (@JohnWernerTrib) and sports editor Brice Cherry (@BriceCherry), ready to dig into some BU and Big 12 football talk: 

1. This is as big a mismatch as Baylor has had this year: The Kansas State Wildcats are the defending Big 12 champs, 6-3 overall despite an OT loss in Austin last week, and they still have a path back to Arlington. Baylor, on the other hand, will not be invited to Arlington and maybe not a bowl, either. Where would a Bears upset rank on the weird-o-meter for 2023?

2. We've talked about how disciplined and physical K-State is, with great fundamentals. Let's get some insight from Tim: What makes this team so tough?

3. Let's go down to Austin for a second — QB Quinn Ewers has been upgraded from questionable to day-to-day. How much of a difference can Ewers make for the Longhorns down the stretch?

4. The Sunflower State Showdown is next week: How big a game is Kansas vs. K-State this year, especially in the history of that rivalry?

5. Time for some Kansas/Kansas City food talk: Where are the good places to hit?

----- 

Music: https://purple-planet.com/ 

We're joined by Kansas State beat writer <a href="https://themercury.com/users/profile/tim%20everson/">Tim Everson</a> of the Manhattan Mercury (<a href="https://twitter.com/iamtimeverson">@iamtimeverson</a>), along with the Trib's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith (<a href="https://twitter.com/ByZachSmith">@ByZachSmith</a>), Trib alum John Werner (<a href="https://twitter.com/JohnWernerTrib">@JohnWernerTrib</a>) and sports editor Brice Cherry (<a href="https://twitter.com/BriceCherry">@BriceCherry</a>), ready to dig into some BU and Big 12 football talk: 
1. This is as big a mismatch as Baylor has had this year: The Kansas State Wildcats are the defending Big 12 champs, 6-3 overall despite an OT loss in Austin last week, and they still have a path back to Arlington. Baylor, on the other hand, will not be invited to Arlington and maybe not a bowl, either. Where would a Bears upset rank on the weird-o-meter for 2023?
2. We've talked about how disciplined and physical K-State is, with great fundamentals. Let's get some insight from Tim: What makes this team so tough?
3. Let's go down to Austin for a second — QB Quinn Ewers has been upgraded from questionable to day-to-day. How much of a difference can Ewers make for the Longhorns down the stretch?
4. The Sunflower State Showdown is next week: How big a game is Kansas vs. K-State this year, especially in the history of that rivalry?
5. Time for some Kansas/Kansas City food talk: Where are the good places to hit?
----- 
Music: https://purple-planet.com/

One True Podcast: WVU and Dave Aranda watch, the No. 1 Baylor problem, Heisman arguments and Big 12 coaching honors

In 1 playlist(s)

One True Podcast: Baylor/Big 12 football

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips