Let’s get one thing straight right now: the internet is a wild place, and the idea of DJ Lagway rocking a Baylor jersey is pure fantasy. As of August 3, 2026, the Heisman front-runner is locked in at Gainesville, grinding through the dog days of Fall Camp with the Florida Gators. The “woes” attached to his name? That’s Florida’s 2025 collapse, not anything brewing in the Big 12. He’s the Preseason All-SEC First Team signal-caller, out to bury the sting of that 3-4 finish - and he’s doing it in orange and blue, not green and gold.
Meanwhile, Dave Aranda’s Bears are grinding through their own camp in Waco with a completely different quarterback under center: transfer Riley Woods. So, while Lagway chases a title in the SEC, Baylor is desperately hunting for an offensive identity. This list breaks down the 25 most critical pieces for the Bears' 2026 campaign - a season that hinges on a new signal-caller, a bruising running game, and a defense that must shoulder the load. This is the true “Top 25 Most Important Baylor Players in 2026” narrative - minus the fake Waco connection.
The Defensive Anchor and the New Offensive Engine
If you want to know why Baylor still has a pulse this season, start with the man who makes the Big 12's best offensive linemen uneasy. While the Lagway fantasy is a nice thought, the reality is that this team's ceiling is defined by its defensive front and the new guy under center.
- 1. DL Devonte Tezino (Sr.) - The consensus top player on this roster, and it isn’t close. After racking up 9.5 sacks in 2025, Tezino was a lock for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team (announced July 15). He’s the undisputed leader of the defense and the primary reason this team has any shot at exceeding its projected 5.5 win total. His ability to wreck the Oregon State game plan on September 5 will set the tone for the entire year.
- 2. QB Riley Woods (Sr.) - Formally named the starter on July 28, Woods steps in from Texas State with a massive burden. The 2025 passing attack ranked 86th nationally - an unacceptable number for a program with Big 12 title aspirations. He’s got the mobility and arm talent to fix that, but he’s learning a new system on the fly. His chemistry with the receivers in camp will be the single most-watched storyline of August.
- 3. RB Cam Sessions (Jr.) - The workhorse. With a new quarterback under center, Sessions is the security blanket. He’s coming off a breakout year and will be asked to carry the load early to ease the pressure on Woods. Expect a hefty workload against the Beavers in Week 1.
📊 9.5 sacks in 2025 for Devonte Tezino - That production earned him Preseason All-Big 12 honors and makes him the single most important Bear on the roster.
Critical Playmakers and a Crucial Health Update
The skill positions are a mixed bag of proven veterans and unproven youth. The good news? The receiving corps just got a massive boost with the return of their top target. But the margin for error is razor-thin - one wrong step could derail the whole season.
