It’s Auburn vs. Baylor in a 2025 Week 1 matchup, and the most important opening game for Auburn in recent memory has predictions and analysis swarming. It’s the first time these two teams have met since 1976, and a win can set Auburn up for success for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, a loss lets all of the whispers from the offseason get much louder.
Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears: History and Excerpts
Auburn and Baylor have played four times previously. Auburn has won one, tied one, and lost two games. The Tigers have the larger margin of victory with a 20-point win back in 1954. Meanwhile, Baylor’s largest margin of victory was six in 1965. Let’s preview the matchup for this year of Auburn versus Baylor.
Auburn vs. Baylor 2025: Keys & Predictions
Auburn’s Key Offensive Players
Last year, Auburn’s offense put up 411 yards per game, ranking 38th in the country. However, they scored 23.6 points per game, which ranked 93rd.
The Auburn offense has got to do better this year, and that all starts with this Week 1 matchup. The key players on offense for this game are quarterback Jackson Arnold, and wide receivers Eric Singleton Jr. and Cam Coleman. Let’s start with the easy one, Cam Coleman.
The sophomore phenom showed what he is capable of in the last three games of 2024 where he compiled 22 receptions, 306 yards, six touchdowns. Coleman is poised for a huge season and putting his name up with the other stars of the (potential) 2027 draft class.
Eric Singleton Jr. transferred in from Georgia Tech and will be an excellent pairing with Coleman’s skillset. In two seasons at Georgia Tech, Singleton compiled 104 receptions, 1468 yards, and nine touchdowns. The thing to watch for with Singleton is going to be his route running, combined with his speed that will make him a nightmare for defenders.
Finally, Jackson Arnold is the last key player for Auburn. Last year in his one season as the starter at Oklahoma, Arnold put up a 62.6 completion rate, 1421 yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. Arnold is also a threat on the ground, rushing 150 times for 444 yards and three more touchdowns. However, he also fumbled nine times, and lost five of them. Arnold will have to clean up the turnovers, especially in this matchup. He has the talent surrounding him to have a good season.
An honorable mention here is the offensive line, who is returning four starters. This will also be huge for Arnold’s success.
Auburn’s Key Defensive Players
In 2024, Auburn’s defense was top-35 in both yards allowed and points allowed per game. Technically, Auburn is only returning five starters on the defense. However, this does not include players like Champ Anthony, Malik Blocton and even Demarcus Riddick, who all played significant snaps last year.
Riddick, in nine games last year, had 27 total tackles, three sacks, and one pass defended. With Eugene Asante and Dorian Mausi gone, Riddick has big shoes to fill. His activity level will be huge against Baylor.
The next key defensive player for the Auburn is sophomore cornerback Jay Crawford. Crawford, as a true freshman, led the team with seven pass deflections last year. He will be a nightmare for opposing teams’ best wide receiver starting with Baylor.
Finally, Keldric Faulk is the last key defensive player for Auburn. He is projected as a top-15 NFL draft pick. In 2024, Faulk had 45 total tackles, seven sacks, and had one forced fumble, fumble recovery, and pass defense. Baylor will have to double-team him to slow him down, which will allow others to create pressure.
Baylor’s Key Offensive Players
Baylor’s offense is led by senior quarterback, Sawyer Robertson, who recorded 3071 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 62.2 completion percentage. Robertson is highly regarded going into this season and with good reason. He will have to live up to the hype to lift up the Baylor offense against Auburn’s defense.
Baylor’s next key offensive player is redshirt sophomore running back Bryson Washington. Washington had 175 carries, 1028 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. His explosiveness could be a problem for the second level of Auburn’s defense, specifically the linebackers who are lacking experience.
The final key offensive player is senior wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins. Before playing at Baylor, Hawkins put up 55 receptions for 874 yards and three touchdowns at Texas State. He followed that up with 45 receptions, 567 yards and five touchdowns at Baylor. Hawkins will have a tough matchup with Auburn’s secondary, but clearly has the talent to expose coverage mistakes. Hawkins paired with Robertson will be a massive matchup to watch against Auburn’s defense.
Baylor’s Key Defensive Players
Baylor’s defense allowed 28.7 points and 402.8 yards per game last year, both of which ranked in the 80’s nationally. The first key player is the 2024 tackle leader, Keaton Thomas.
Thomas had 106 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception (pick-six). This shows that Thomas will be all over the field. And, that he has the athletic ability to take any mistakes made by Auburn to the house.
The next key player for the Baylor Bears is Jackie Marshall. The redshirt senior defensive end racked up 40 total tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble last season. Marshall was fifth on the team in sacks, and the four players in front of him either graduated or are in the NFL. He will have to step up to replace that lost production. Marshall will not have an easy job against Auburn’s experienced offensive line.
The final key defensive player for this matchup is Caden Jenkins. The junior cornerback has compiled 61 total tackles, seven pass deflections and four interceptions over his two-year career at Baylor. Jenkins will have his work cut out for him facing Coleman and Singleton.
How the Auburn Tigers Win in Week 1
Auburn has to win this football game to start the season off strong and keep the wolves away. If they lose, the calls for Hugh Freeze’s job could start as early as Saturday, August 3o.
The keys to this game are simple. Auburn and Jackson Arnold have to protect the football. The Tigers cannot afford multiple turnovers against Baylor because the Bears’ offense will be potent. To do so, Arnold will need to get the ball to his playmakers early and often. Establishing the run with the absence of Jarquez Hunter will also be a key to this game.
Finally, the Auburn defense will have to find a way to slow down Sawyer Robertson. This starts with stuffing the run and Bryson Washington. Doing so will allow Auburn pass-rushers to pin their ears back and focus on pursuing the quarterback. The good news is that Auburn’s secondary may be their best unit on their defense, so the Baylor wide receivers will not have an easy night.
Final Score Prediction: 21-17, Auburn
Auburn Tigers: Recruiting Roundup
Since the recent Auburn commits were covered in the season preview, the recruiting roundup will fully list the 2026 class. Currently the Tigers are No. 22 nationally in the 2026 recruiting rankings. Their class includes the following players:
- Five-star Bralan Womack, Safety
- Four-star Jase Mathews, Wide Receiver
- Four-star Jaquez Wilkes, EDGE
- Four-star Hezekiah Harris, EDGE
- Four-star Peyton Falzone, Athlete/Quarterback
- Four-star Wilson Zierer, Offensive Tackle
- Four-star Adam Balogoun-Ali, Linebacker
- Three-star Kentrell White, Athlete
- Three-star Parker Pritchett, Offensive Lineman
- Three-star Nikau Hepi, Offensive Tackle
- Three-star Eric Perry, Running Back
- Three-star Wayne Henry, Safety
- Three-star Travis Wakefield, Long Snapper
The season needs to go well on the field for Auburn to continue to have success in the recruiting world. It will be very telling by who chooses to attend games this year after Auburn starts to play games.
Discover more from The League Winners
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
