By Sachin Shankar Yadav 
The recent leave of absence taken by Mack Rhoades, the athletic director of Baylor, comes at a crucial time for the school’s athletic programs and casts doubt on head football coach Dave Aranda’s future in Waco.
In response to two distinct reported issues—a sideline altercation involving star player Michael Trigg earlier this season and new, unrelated allegations the university received—Rhoades started his leave for “personal reasons” on November 12, 2025. Although Baylor stated that he took his leave for personal reasons, an investigation into Rhoades’ behavior and the new claims is still ongoing. He also resigned as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee as a result of his absence, which temporarily left important leadership positions at Baylor and in national college football governance open.
Due to leadership changes and program difficulties, Dave Aranda’s job as head coach is now more in jeopardy. Aranda’s teams have struggled to sustain their momentum following a spectacular 12-2 season in 2021. They ended the following two seasons with losing or mediocre records, and they began the current campaign with a 4-4 record following a crushing loss to Cincinnati. Despite efforts to revitalize the program with new hires and coaching changes, the program has not returned to Big 12 contention. According to industry sources, the last stretch of the season is crucial for Aranda’s tenure at Baylor, but his buyout is reportedly worth over $12 million, which could make a possible firing expensive.
Decision-Making Vacuum: In the absence of Rhoades, interim athletic leadership will make important choices about the program’s direction, such as whether to keep Aranda on board or fire him. At the moment, co-interim athletic directors are in charge.
Pressure and Uncertainty: The athletic director is frequently in charge of coaching changes; without Rhoades, there may be a delay in taking any firm action, more uncertainty, and outside pressure from university stakeholders and boosters.
Program Stability: Recruiting, employee morale, and program stability will probably be impacted by the ongoing investigations and accusations against Baylor’s athletic leadership. This makes Aranda’s assessment even more complicated.
Sentiment and Buyout: Aranda is a popular employee in the department, and his dismissal would lead to a sizable financial buyout. These elements will make decisions made by interim leadership more difficult, particularly since Rhoades’ authority and viewpoint are no longer available.
Navigating the remainder of the football season with interim leaders overseeing the athletics department and possibly the football program is Baylor’s top priority right now. While Rhoades’ unresolved status raises more significant strategic and administrative issues, Aranda’s future may be determined by how the Bears play in their final games.
In conclusion, Baylor’s leadership is now uncertain due to Mack Rhoades’ departure, and interim administrators will now have to decide Dave Aranda’s future in the face of ongoing investigations and subpar team performance.