Baylor’s Dave Aranda addresses fourth-down call, defensive execution in Big 12 Championship

In the moments after a goal line stand and 21-16 upset win over No. 5 Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda addressed the controversial fourth-down call inside his own half, along with the incredible play of his defense.

On its first possession of the second half, Baylor held a 21-6 lead after forcing one of Spencer Sanders’ four interceptions. After a loss of yards on first down and two completions brought up fourth-and-one, analytics came into play. Dave Aranda’s bold fourth-down call led to a throwaway and turnover on downs.

“I think we’ve always been that way,” Aranda said after the game. “And I think that’s somewhere where, myself, going for it I think was the right call. But I think coaching pointers to Blake (Shapen) is, ‘Hey, this is it. We can’t throw it away. We don’t have another down. You have to be able to make it.’ And I take the fault for that.”

The pivotal play gave Oklahoma State the ball back at the Baylor 36-yard line, flipping the field position battle. The Cowboys capitalized with their first touchdown of the game and kickstarted a comeback effort.

Dave Aranda on Baylor defense

Oklahoma State’s comeback effort fell short on fourth-and-one at the Baylor one-yard line when backup running back Dezmon Jackson stretched unsuccessfully for the pylon. The close call will go down as nothing more than a footnote, but Dave Aranda gives thanks to his veteran defense for their constant effort.

“Just knowing Jalen Pitre, knowing Terrel Bernard, just knowing all of those guys and just the pride they have in their craft,” said Aranda. “Knowing the growth they’ve made as a person – to see that effort and that fight – is just definitive of what’s been happening without all the eyes that are on us today. So I’m blessed to be a part of all of it.”

Pitre and Bernard are both Texas natives with four years of experience. The duo has become the core leadership pieces in Baylor’s defense under Aranda and stepped up multiple times throughout the game with big plays to hold the Oklahoma State offense in check.

Baylor now waits for more chaos across college football, hoping for a miraculous climb from No. 9 to a top-four spot in the CFP selection committee’s final rankings. No matter the result, a New Year’s Six bowl and a Big 12 title are in Aranda’s grasp.