Auburn Opens 2025 Season with Statement Opportunity at Baylor
Waco, TX - Auburn football returns Friday night, as we open the 2025 campaign on the road against a tough, veteran Baylor team in what feels less like a warm-up and more like a gut-check.
Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at McLane Stadium in Waco, and while it’s only Week 1, this one already carries weight for both programs. Auburn is trying to claw its way back to relevance after a frustrating 5–7 season, and Hugh Freeze badly needs to show signs of real progress in year two. For Baylor, coming off an 8-win season and a Texas Bowl appearance, this is about keeping momentum and proving they belong in the Big 12 title conversation.
For Auburn, everything starts with the quarterback. Jackson Arnold, the high-profile transfer from Oklahoma, makes his debut after being handed the keys to the offense. He’s a dual-threat talent with a live arm and the kind of mobility that fits Freeze’s RPO-heavy system. But Friday will be his first real look under the lights as QB1, and it comes on the road in front of a hostile crowd. The spotlight’s on, and how Arnold handles the moment could set the tone for Auburn’s entire season.
What helps? He’s surrounded by weapons. Auburn’s receiving corps is one of the most dangerous units in the country, led by Cam Coleman, a legit All-SEC talent who can go up and get it, and Eric Singleton Jr., a transfer from Georgia Tech who brings explosiveness after the catch. Add in a solid backfield of Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb, and Arnold has options at every level of the field. The big question is whether the offensive line—rebuilt through the portal—can hold up long enough to let it all click.
Baylor, meanwhile, brings back one of the more balanced and experienced offenses in the country. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson returns after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, and he’s paired again with running back Bryson Washington, who crossed the 1,000-yard mark in 2024. It’s a group that ranked top 20 in total offense last year and isn’t shy about taking deep shots or pushing tempo.
But that offense will be running into an Auburn defense that might be the most stable part of the Tigers’ team right now. Defensive end Keldric Faulk is a name to know—an athletic freak who looks like a future first-rounder. He’ll be tasked with wrecking Baylor’s rhythm early. Auburn’s secondary, led by veteran corner Kayin Lee, has the tools to slow down Baylor’s passing attack, especially if the front can generate pressure. The only real question mark is linebacker, where youth and inexperience could be tested early.
The key matchup in this one? Auburn’s wideouts against Baylor’s secondary. Last season, Baylor ranked 94th in the country in passing yards allowed. That’s a matchup Auburn has to exploit—especially with the kind of elite talent they’re lining up outside.
Vegas sees it as a coin flip. Auburn is a slight 2.5-point favorite, and most projection models have it as a one-score game either way. The over/under is 58.5, which makes sense considering both teams have big-play potential and some early-season rust to shake off.
For Auburn, this is about more than just starting 1–0. It’s about identity. Is this a team ready to take a real step forward under Freeze? Or are we looking at another year of flashes and frustrations? We’ll start getting answers tonight in Waco.
Projection
Auburn 35
Baylor 28
War Eagle!