With fall camp underway across college football, it’s a chance to get players all set up for the start of the 2024 college football season, and in the case of the Baylor Bears, send a very clear message to the rest of the sport: We’ve got the bag.
Baylor football put this post up on social media on Friday afternoon, sharing a picture of the coaching staff wearing shirts saying, “WE PAY PLAYERS”.
Fans can buy the shirt and a portion of the proceeds will go to Baylor’s NIL fund.
Dave Aranda made it very clear at Big 12 media days that the Bears are now in the business of paying football players.
The Bears currently rank 27th nationally in the 247Sports 2025 college football recruiting rankings and No. 3 in the Big 12.
What’s working?
“We’re paying players,” Aranda told Craig Smoak of 365Sports.
Smoak followed up by asking if it was really that simple, to which Aranda said, “Yes.”
Near the end of last season, which was Baylor’s worst since 2020, Aranda took some of the blame for his program being behind in terms of NIL.
“I think the way it stands right now just with our record and with the amount of freshmen that are playing on our team. …. We are kind of the perfect example of a team to be poached [by other teams,” Aranda said. “So, all that’s in play right now and is happening right now and is something that I’m spending a lot of time on.
“So, whether that’s NIL for the guys on our team and getting that to where that is way competitive. And then, for guys that are coming in, and that are going to be on our team and all that, I think it’s something that is a major focus.”
The Bears will open up the 2024 season against Tarleton State and hope for a much better season after bringing in several impact players via the transfer portal.
