Almost 120 years ago, Baylor hosted the first collegiate homecoming celebration in the nation.
This week (Nov. 2-7, 2026) we renew that tradition. Baylor Homecoming is the biggest Baylor Family reunion of the year — all about seeing old friends, recalling fond memories, sharing those stories with the next generation, and celebrating together as one.
Whether you’re a Homecoming regular or this is your first trip to campus in years, you’ll want to start your Baylor Homecoming experience this year (Nov. 6-7) at the Hurd Welcome Center.
The Hurd will serve as “Homecoming headquarters” for visitors, with Baylor staff on hand Friday and Saturday to answer questions and help you connect with school/college/campus events — plus a host of kids’ crafts and activities, Baylor history exhibits, photo ops, and more.
Baylor is known for its classic Texas culture and traditions. From wearing cowboy boots at home football games to enjoying floats and fellowship at the weekly Dr Pepper Hour, Baylor has long been a favorite choice for college students wanting a true Lone Star State experience.
Lovers of Homecoming mums can thank Baylor for having been the first college in Texas to popularize this symbol of school spirit. That’s because, even though the mum tradition began in Missouri circa 1911, it became bigger and better after Baylor’s Homecoming queens began wearing mums in the 1930s. (Check out 1935 Baylor Homecoming Queen Marguerite Joyce above.) From Waco, the Homecoming mum tradition quickly spread to colleges and high schools across the state.
New faces, same high expectations.
That’s the TL;DR for Baylor basketball this year, for both the men’s and women’s teams. Fans at Foster Pavilion will have several new players to get to know this year — and a lot to like — as head coaches Scott Drew and Nicki Collen have prepared their programs for life in the Big 12 — the nation’s best basketball conference — this year.
During COVID, we all learned the term “supply chain” as we tried to understand why items like toilet paper and disinfectant wipes were suddenly so hard to find.
Years after the pandemic, most of us again take for granted that the products we want will be available whenever we need them. Behind the scenes, however, intricate supply chains make that convenience possible. Multiple Baylor researchers are making an impact on the field — work that eventually helps all of us.
As simple tributes to those who have gone before us, they are easy to miss or take for granted. But 140+ of the red granite lampposts scattered across Baylor’s campus are more than just utilitarian lighting — they are memorials to those who have served our country, including many who gave their lives in action.
These lampposts have now been a part of campus for 80 years. The first were dedicated in a ceremony at Waco Hall on Oct. 25, 1946, just a year after the conclusion of World War II. More than 4,000 Baylor men and women served during WWII, and 125 of them lost their lives doing so. Baylor psychology professor Anna Martin suggested honoring the fallen with lamps.
When the Banana Ball 2027 World Tour was announced earlier this month, there was McLane Stadium — right alongside a host of NFL and MLB stadiums.
Yes, Banana Ball is coming to Baylor and Waco on May 7-8, 2027. Tickets are available only through Banana Ball’s online ticket lottery — and that lottery closes Oct. 31, so sign up now. Standard tickets start at $35, with no hidden fees or taxes.
At Baylor, our Christian faith is not just a thing we do, another box to be checked — it’s a part of everything we do. Even as Baylor has grown over the last 175+ years, our faith remains the “why” behind what we do — from academics to student life and beyond.
Here are seven examples of how Baylor infuses Christian faith into everyday campus life: