2026 QB Spotlight: Sawyer Robertson

Kevin looks at a potential sleeper in the 2026 QB class!

Sawyer Robertson’s breakout in 2024 didn’t just rewrite his story it might’ve saved Dave Aranda’s job.

Heading into the year, Baylor looked like a team ready to unravel. Dequan Finn was the presumed starter but got sidelined early. The offensive line struggled to adapt to Jake Spavital’s scheme. And Aranda? He was firmly on the hot seat. But when Robertson stepped in during Week 3, everything shifted.

The former Mississippi State transfer had already been through the wringer, sitting behind Will Rogers in Starkville, then losing camp battles to Blake Shapen and Finn in Waco. By the time he got the nod, his career was teetering on "what could’ve been." But Robertson delivered when it mattered most.

He led Baylor to six straight wins to close the regular season, finishing with 3,071 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He was highly efficient, too no other Big 12 QB hit 3,000 yards on fewer than 450 attempts. Robertson did it on just 368. He added another 230 yards and four scores on the ground and posted an 83.7 QBR, the highest in the Big 12 and fifth nationally.

Robertson’s emergence gave Baylor stability and momentum down the stretch. While some of his production came against softer competition, his poise, arm talent, and command of the offense stood out. After years of waiting his turn, he finally delivered and did so at a high level.

Now with Robertson locked in as QB1, the next question becomes: how does Baylor’s coaching staff build on that momentum, and what can we expect from Spavital’s system moving forward?

Come check out all our 2026 QB Spotlights below!

Coaching and Scheme

After pulling off a dramatic second-half turnaround in 2024, Dave Aranda bought himself time in Waco. But now the clock resets. With his seat cooled and a veteran roster returning, the expectation shifts, it’s no longer just about salvaging a season. It’s about proving that this version of Baylor football can win games at the highest level under his vision.

A huge piece of that puzzle is offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who deserves just as much credit for the Bears' resurgence as anyone.

Spavital is one of the most well-traveled and respected offensive minds in the college game. His resume includes stops as OC and QB coach at West Virginia, Cal, and Texas A&M, as well as a four-year stint as head coach at Texas State. Wherever he goes, production tends to follow and his return to the Big 12 in 2024 was no exception.

Spavital’s offense brought Baylor back to life. The Bears jumped from dead last in scoring in the Big 12 in 2023 to second in 2024 and finished top 20 nationally in points per game. More importantly, the offense kept evolving as the season progressed. Over the final two months, Baylor ranked top five in total yards per game and sixth in scoring across the FBS. That rise coincided with Sawyer Robertson taking over full-time at quarterback.

While Spavital comes from the Air Raid coaching tree, working alongside Dana Holgorsen and Kliff Kingsbury early in his career, he’s adapted more than most. Instead of sticking to the traditional 10- or 11-personnel sets with nonstop verticals, Spavital’s Baylor offense mixed in more two-tight end looks, built in a heavier run game, and played with more structure. The run game, while still zone-heavy, incorporated gap and power concepts to keep defenses honest. Think shades of early Lincoln Riley: GT counter, inside zone, and plenty of misdirection.

Route diversity was another major shift. Baylor’s passing attack targeted at least 13 different route concepts at a meaningful volume far more varied than many other Big 12 systems. And while motion usage remained relatively low (around 40%, well below the national average), the static approach allowed Robertson to work through full-field reads with consistency and rhythm.

By season’s end, Baylor’s offense had posted:

• 904 total plays

• 6.3 yards per play

• 440.1 yards per game

• 58 total touchdowns

It wasn’t just a turnaround. It was a complete identity shift and one that played perfectly into Robertson’s strengths.

Now with a full offseason under Spavital’s tutelage and a returning core around him, the table is set. So what can we expect from Baylor’s offense in 2025 — and which weapons are in line to make some noise?

2025 Offensive Outlook

The Bears don’t just return a quarterback with momentum. They return a full deck of offensive firepower around him.

Let’s start with the backfield. Bryson Washington had the best freshman season of any running back in Baylor history, rushing for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s got legitimate juice and should be in the conversation for one of the top backs in the Big 12 this year. His running mate, Dawson Pendergrass, adds a physical, punishing element as a true thunder-style complement. He ran for 671 yards and six scores last year and routinely breaks tackles at the second level. Together, they form one of the better backfield duos in the conference.

Out wide, Josh Cameron returns after leading the team in receptions (52) and touchdowns (10). He became the first Baylor wideout to hit double-digit TDs since 2021. He also happens to be one of the most dangerous punt returners in the country, averaging nearly 21 yards per return. While Ashtyn Hawkins is currently out of the mix after the NCAA denied his extra year of eligibility, there’s still a glimmer of hope he returns.

Even without Hawkins, the Bears reloaded through the portal. Former Alabama receiver Kobe Prentice brings speed and polish to the slot. Kole Wilson, a Texas State transfer, adds vertical juice after hauling in 109 passes over the last two seasons. Both figure to carve out meaningful roles in Spavital’s spread system.

At tight end, Michael Trigg is the ultimate wildcard. The former Ole Miss and USC transfer can line up in-line, flexed out, or even in the slot. When he’s locked in, he’s a mismatch nightmare. He posted 30 receptions for 395 yards and three scores in 2024, but the production came in waves. One week he’s torching Houston for 96 yards and a score. The next, he disappears from the stat sheet. If Baylor can find consistency with him, this offense could take another leap.

Up front, things were shaky early on as the unit transitioned from Jeff Grimes’ wide zone system to Spavital’s more Air Raid-friendly blocking schemes. Through the first six weeks, the line averaged just 3.86 yards per carry, and that included games against Tarleton State and Air Force. But after the bye week, the switch flipped. Baylor ripped off six straight wins, and the line paved the way for 5.85 yards per carry during the back half of Big 12 play.

Four returning starters anchor the line: left tackle Sidney Fugar, guards Ryan Lengyel and Omar Aigbedion, and center Coleton Price. The lone question mark is at right tackle, where Kaden Sieracki currently holds the edge in a camp battle that includes Louisville transfer Joe Crocker. Altogether, five of Baylor’s top seven linemen from last season return. This is one of the most experienced and cohesive units in the conference.

With continuity, depth, and playmakers across the board, there’s no excuse for this offense not to hit another level. The infrastructure is in place.

Now let’s turn the spotlight back to QB1. Because the tape doesn’t lie, and Robertson's film tells the story of a quarterback finally stepping into his own.

Projected 2025 Depth Chart (Offense)

• QB1: Sawyer Robertson

• RB1: Bryson Washington

• RB2: Dawson Pendergrass

• WR1: Josh Cameron

• WR2: Ashtyn Hawkins (Eligibility Issues)

• WR3: Kobe Prentice

• WR4: Kole Wilson

• TE1: Michael Trigg

Scouting Report

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