By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Sports.com Correspondent

A daily countdown previewing the upcoming college football season. Today: Baylor Bears.

2007: 3-9 overall, 0-8 in South Division, 6th.
Bowl game: None.
Coach: Art Briles, first season at Baylor.
Returning starters: 9 on offense, 6 on defense.

Staff changes: Briles is the fifth Baylor head coach in the last 16 seasons. He brought most of his staff from Houston with him to Waco. Randy Clements and Phillip Montgomery are co-offensive coordinators but get plenty of input from the innovative Briles. Brian Norwood, a former Penn State assistant, is in his first year as a defensive coordinator.

Offensive outlook: Briles' Houston teams were an intriguing combination of spread-formation passing with a productive running game. Look for the Bears to let it all hang out with odd formations and trick plays. There is some play-making talent on the roster.

Defensive outlook: The Bears tried a 4-2-5 alignment to help stop their pass-happy opponents. It didn't work. Baylor will use the basic 4-3-4 this season. One key will be forcing more turnovers (just 19 forced last season).

Player on the spot: Junior linebacker Joe Pawelek is the top tackler and the heart and soul of the Bears' defense. He must continue his hard-hitting ways to keep Baylor from being the team every quarterback loves to face. The Bears ranked 110th in total defense last season. If the defense doesn't improve, it doesn't matter how explosive the offensive is.

Player on the rise: Junior wide receiver David Gettis. A heralded recruit out of high school, the 6-4, 209-pounder has just one touchdown reception in two seasons. He's got speed, size and good hands. "God was good to him," Briles said of Gettis. "We need to make God smile." Gettis could have a break-out season in his new coach's offense.

Number of note: In five seasons as Houston's coach, Briles had a 34-28 record. In the five seasons before Briles took over, the Cougars went 18-38. Baylor is 18-40 for the last five seasons.

Date book: The Bears are one of three BCS schools with three non-conference games against teams (Wake Forest, Washington State, Connecticut) from BCS conferences. The four-game stretch that features road games at Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Texas with a home game against Missouri is brutal.

2008 SCHEDULE

THE SCHEDULE - BIG 12 SKYWRITERS TOUR PRESENTED BY TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL