Iowa State Visits Baylor After Coaching Change
Iowa State plays at Baylor on Saturday, as the Bears adjust to the firing of head coach Dave Aranda.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Iowa State (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) travels to face Baylor on Saturday, following a 51-49 win over Oklahoma State last week. Baylor fired head coach Dave Aranda after a 4-3 start and elevated Joe Klanderman to interim head coach.
Why it matters
Baylor's leadership change followed consecutive losses to Kansas and TCU, leaving the Bears searching for stability in Waco. Iowa State's matchup tests a young roster that has already faced five ranked opponents this season.
Iowa State has 17 first-time collegiate starters this season, while Baylor's scoring defense ranks in the top 20 nationally at 15.3 points per game. Neither team's full injury report or depth-chart changes after the coaching move were included in the available data.
The players
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State University football program, a member of the Big 12 Conference based in Ames, Iowa.
Baylor Bears
The Baylor University football program, a member of the Big 12 Conference based in Waco, Texas.
Joe Klanderman
A football coach who previously led Kansas State's defense for five seasons before being elevated to interim head coach at Baylor.
Dave Aranda
A former Baylor head football coach whose firing followed a 4-3 start to the 2026 season.
The details
Baylor elevated Joe Klanderman, who previously coached Kansas State's defense for five seasons, to interim head coach after a double-digit lead slipped away against Kansas in Lawrence, where a potential game-winning field goal was blocked. Iowa State enters the game after a 51-49 win over Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium.
Timeline
Last Saturday: Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 51-49 at Jack Trice Stadium.
Saturday, November 21: Iowa State plays at Baylor in Waco.
Season Trajectory
Baylor's mid-season change follows a common pattern in Big 12 football, where programs that fall short of expectations turn to interim leadership to finish the year. For Iowa State, the matchup carries weight in a conference race where both teams are competing for position with records of 2-3 or worse in league play.
Fantasy managers should note that Baylor's defense ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring at 15.3 points per game, which may affect projections for Iowa State's offense. The interim coaching change may also bring shifts in Baylor's play-calling that could alter how the game unfolds.
The takeaway
Baylor's interim leadership and Iowa State's young roster make this matchup a useful test of how quickly each program can adjust in the second half of the season.
What happens next
Iowa State plays at Baylor on Saturday, November 21.
Further reading
For more on the Bears' program, see Football coverage on Wisevoter.
