One True Podcast: A show about Baylor and the Big 12

Doug McNamee has been in his job as Baylor Athletic Director for just under two months. A Baylor graduate, McNamee previously worked in the athletics department from 2012 to 2017. He worked with the Bear Foundation for the first four years before serving as the Associate AD for External Relations in 2017. He left Baylor to become the President of the Waco-based brand Magnolia in 2018, founded by Baylor alumni Chip and Joanna Gaines. In 2022, he became the President of Field & Stream, an outdoor retailer and magazine. McNamee replaces Mack Rhoades, who stepped down in late November after spending nine years in the role. Waco Tribune-Herald sports editor Brice Cherry and sports reporter Zach Smith sat down with McNamee to discuss how he is adjusting to the new role, his plans for the future of the department, NIL and various sports.

Baylor and Texas are set to renew their women's basketball rivalry Sunday afternoon in Fort Worth. Texas beat writer Danny Davis from the Austin American-Statesman joins Baylor beat writer Zach Smith to break down the matchup between the Bears and Longhorns. What makes No. 2 Texas so good? How good are the talented Texas duo of Rori Harmon and Madison Booker? Will the Longhorns be intimidated by elite Baylor scorer Taliah Scott? Should this game continue even with schools in different conferences?

Baylor officially has a new athletic director: Doug McNamee. McNamee is a Baylor alum and athletics department employee who spent the last seven years as President of Magnolia and Field & Stream. He and Baylor President Linda Livingstone made it clear that the main goal with this hire is fundraising. But there are other things on McNamee's to-do list, including fixing the football program and repairing a fractured relationship with the Baylor fan base. Trib sports editor Brice Cherry and Baylor beat writer Zach Smith give their instant reaction to the new face of Baylor athletics.

In a game that mirrored how the Baylor season has gone in many ways, the Bears couldn't climb out of an early hole in a loss to Houston in the final game of the regular season Saturday at McLane Stadium. Baylor has missed a bowl game in three of six seasons under head coach Dave Aranda, while it has had four losing seasons in that span. Trib sports editor Brice Cherry and Baylor beat writer Zach Smith break down the loss to the Cougars and discuss what comes next for the Bears.

The Baylor athletics department is in flux. After nine years as athletics director at Baylor, Mack Rhoades stepped down last Thursday after taking a leave of absence for personal reasons earlier this month. The day after he stepped down, Baylor President Linda Livingstone released a letter saying the school would retain head football coach Dave Aranda for the 2026 season despite an underwhelming season. The Tribune-Herald's Baylor beat writer Zach Smith recently sat down with Dr. Livingstone to discuss the state of the athletics department, the search for a new athletics director, the future of the football program and what comes next.

It was a busy week at Baylor. After taking a leave of absence last week, Mack Rhoades stepped down as athletic director on Thursday. On Friday, Baylor President Linda Livingstone released a letter stating that the school would retain head coach Dave Aranda, citing Rhoades' departure, the incoming recruiting class and the costs associated with a buyout. Then, the Bears allowed 27 unanswered points in the second half in a 41-17 loss on the road against Arizona on Saturday, dropping Aranda to an even 36-36 in six years as head coach. Join Trib sports editor Brice Cherry and Baylor beat writer Zach Smith to break it all down.