Auburn vs Baylor: Why This Opener Could Make or Break the Tigers’ 2025 Season

The Auburn Express

Auburn’s 2025 season kicks off with a road trip to Waco, and there’s no easing into the schedule this year. This isn’t Alabama A&M or an early cupcake; it’s a Big 12 opponent that thinks it’s ready to prove something. Hugh Freeze’s squad will find out who they are immediately — and so will we.

Connor Liu and Xavier Chaplin could be the backbone of an offensive line Auburn hasn’t had in years. If they play to their potential, the offense finally has the foundation to dictate terms instead of surviving week to week. But the real intrigue comes in the chess match: questions still swirl about segmented play-calling, sideline vs. booth decision-makers, and whether this staff can communicate cleanly under pressure.

Baylor’s résumé last season? Inflated. Wins came against bad defenses. Losses piled up when they faced top-40 units. That’s why claims of Sawyer Robertson being miles ahead of Jackson Arnold fall apart under scrutiny — Arnold already beat Alabama and a near–CFP team with a top-40 defense.

For Auburn, the stakes are clear. Lose, and the season isn’t over, but the math gets ugly with Oklahoma and Georgia waiting. Win, and you create momentum for a soft midseason stretch that should translate to real SEC relevance.

This is exactly the kind of non-conference P4 road game great programs win. The SEC is loading up on these matchups, and Auburn has to treat this like a must-win if it wants national respect.

August 29th isn’t just the start of the season — it’s Auburn’s first real test under Hugh Freeze 2.0. Handle Baylor, and the conversation changes fast. Slip up, and you’re instantly playing catch-up in the toughest league in football.

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