Big 12 Favorite?: Baylor Ranked No. 10 In AP Poll
After going 12-2 in the second season of the Dave Aranda era, can Baylor meet those same expectations again?
The Bears enter 2022 ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll by the Associated Press. The Bears also are ranked No. 10 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll.
Baylor is coming off a record-setting year with Aranda at the helm. After going 2-7 in 2020, the Bears rebounded to finish with a program-record 12 wins, capping off the historic year with a Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl victory over No. 7 Ole Miss.
Since the offseason, Baylor has been pressed with replacing talent at multiple positions. Quarterback Blake Shapen will take over the first-team offense after beating out 2021 starter Gerry Bohanon. Following Aranda’s decision, Bohanon elected to transfer to South Florida and is now expected to start in Week 1 against BYU.
Defensively, the Bears are looking to replace the production of linebacker Terrel Bernard, safety J.T. Woods and All-American defensive back Jalen Pitre. Pitre, who was selected No. 37 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft, also was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the year following his efforts under Aranda’s play design.
Last season, Pitre recorded a team-high 18 tackles for loss with 76 total tackles, seven pass breakups, three sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
The Bears are one of three Big 12 programs ranked to begin the new season. Oklahoma, now led by former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, came in at No. 9. Oklahoma State, which faced Baylor in AT&T Stadium last December for the Big 12 title, came in at No. 12.
Baylor is one of three Texas-based programs ranked to begin the year. Texas A&M, which finished 8-4 under the direction of Jimbo Fisher, came in at No. 6. Houston, the preseason favorite to win at AAC over former College Football Playoff finalist Cincinnati, came in at No. 24.
Houston, Cincinnati and BYU will join the Big 12 on July 1 of 2023. The Bearcats and Cougars came in at No. 23 and No. 25, respectively.
Baylor will open the season at McLane Stadium on Sept. 3 against FCS Albany.
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Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson