College football Week 1 is here, and with it, Auburn plays the Baylor Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. This game was moved to this “neutral” site as part of the Aflac Kickoff Series and will help Auburn student-athletes make money with NIL.
Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears 2026 College Football Preview
Matchup History
Auburn and Baylor have played each other five times in the two schools’ storied history with a split record. Baylor has won two games, Auburn has won two games (winning the most recent game last season), and the two teams tied in 1975.
There is a lot of change surrounding this game, including Auburn’s new head coach Alex Golesh, quarterbacks for both teams, and transfers galore on both sides. Dave Aranda is still the head coach for the Baylor Bears, but has one of the hottest seats in college football this season.
Heading into the game, Alex Golesh knows that DJ Lagway, when healthy, presents problems both through the air and with his legs. Golesh mentioned that in his opening press conference this week. Dave Aranda agrees with Golesh that Lagway, having played a lot of football, is going to be an advantage for them. He said so at his press conference ahead of the game against Auburn. Auburn also has an experienced quarterback, though, and has a lot of talent surrounding him that have played in games like this.
Keys to the Game
Key Offensive Players for Auburn
Let’s start hot and heavy with the easiest choice for Auburn’s offense, and that is fifth-year senior Byrum Brown. Brown is one of 12 players in CFB history to throw for over 3000 yards and rush for 1000 yards in the same season. Oh, and Brown nearly did it as a redshirt freshman too (which is where the reminder is necessary that sacks count against rushing yards in college). Brown’s biggest question, and the question for all of the USF transfer players, is can they make the jump from the American Conference to the SEC?
Brown has shown the confidence and the growth in his short time at Auburn that he can make that jump. The thing that Auburn fans are looking forward to most from Brown is that ability to run. So far in Spring Training and Fall Camp, the coaches have used a quick whistle to keep Brown healthy, but also forced him to grow and not immediately rely on his legs. Brown’s throwing motion has been called into question, to which the response should be a pointer finger back to his stat line. Brown has also played against SEC teams and played well, so his transition should be fine.
The next key player is senior running back Jeremiah Cobb. Coach Golesh said in one of his first press conferences that they were going to run the ball – a lot. To do so, they need a running back that can handle the load. Cobb is that running back.
In his first full season as a starter, Cobb had 175 carries for 969 yards and five touchdowns for a 5.5 yards per carry average. Cobb was criminally underutilized by Hugh Freeze in the running game and should have eclipsed 1000 yards last season. This season he should do just that. The biggest area that Cobb will need to show improvement in is the passing game, both from a catching standpoint and a blocking standpoint. If Cobb can do that, then his NFL draft stock rises, and Auburn has a really good season.
The final player for Auburn fans to watch as a key player against Baylor is one that has not received as much hype as others, but has the talent to surprise people. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Koger is this key player. At 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Koger is going to be a big problem.
As a true freshman at USF, Koger put up 38 receptions for 597 yards and eight touchdowns. For reference Auburn fans, Cam Coleman had the almost exact same stat line as a freshman, only gaining one more yard on one fewer catch. Koger’s size and speed are elite, and if he can put together enough body control, Auburn fans may forget about Coleman (I won’t because I love you, Cam). Koger’s teammates have been mentioned more frequently than he has, but we will see who ends up posing the biggest threat this season.
Key Offensive Players for Baylor
Just like Auburn, Baylor has a new quarterback this season as well, and that quarterback is DJ Lagway. Lagway has an ultra-high ceiling, which we have seen glimpses of at Florida. His first season at Florida, he did not start the season as their QB1, but eventually took over that role and played as a true freshman. He threw for 1915 yards and 12 touchdowns, but also nine interceptions. Then in 2025, he played the full season, and we saw a little improvement. He battled injuries in 2025, but still threw for 2264 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, he threw 14 interceptions as well. The two big things Lagway is going to have to do are protect the football and use his legs. If he does so well, then Baylor has a shot at pulling off this upset in Atlanta and saving Dave Aranda’s job for at least one more week.
Louis Brown IV is the next key Baylor Bear. Brown, a fifth-year senior, played at Baylor last year with previous stops at Colorado State and San Diego State. Unfortunately, we do not have a lot to go off of for Brown last year because he only played in three games. Yet, in those three games, he had six catches for 79 yards and one touchdown.
At his two previous stops, he had career-bests in different categories at both schools. His best reception total and touchdown total came at Colorado State in 2023, where he had 47 and five, respectively. His best total yardage came the next season at San Diego State, where he accumulated 620 yards (on a 16.3 yards per catch average). These different personal bests for Brown show that he can do a little bit of everything and has the speed necessary to take the top off of a defense. At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, that could pose a problem in itself. Brown and Lagway will need to get on the same page quickly if Baylor wants a chance to win.
Baylor lost its starting running back from this game last season to the transfer portal – and Auburn – where Bryson Washington ended up. Dawson Pendergrass is taking over as the starter this season, and he will have to be important. If Baylor is unable to run the football, with Pendergrass, Lagway, or any other running back, then they are going to have a problem generating enough offense.
The senior running back missed last season due to a foot injury that required season-ending surgery. Prior to that, Pendergrass had career totals of 200 carries for 1009 yards and 11 touchdowns. Pendergrass also offers a little help in the receiving room with career totals of 37 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns. If Baylor is to win this game, Dawson Pendergrass has to make an impact.
Key Baylor Defensive Players
Baylor lost its sack leader (to the transfer portal) and tackle leader (to the transfer portal), but did not lose its pass breakups leader or interceptions leader from 2025 to 2026. LeVar Thornton Jr. is that pass-breakups leader, and he is the first key player for the Baylor Bears’ defense.
In 2025, Thornton Jr. had seven pass breakups, one interception, and 27 total tackles. He is going to be a key in this game because Auburn has a new receiving corps that is looking to prove that it can make the jump to the SEC. Now, Baylor is a Big 12 school, so the first test for those receivers is whether they compete at that level. Thornton Jr. will be the first to have that say so and will likely matchup with either Keshaun Singleton or the aforementioned Koger. For Baylor to have a chance, they are going to have to figure out how to stop this offense, and that starts with Thornton Jr.
Jacob Redding is the next key player for the Bears and is the previously mentioned interceptions leader from last season. Redding was also third on the team in total tackles with 53, and his interception total was three last season. He added two pass breakups to his stat line last season, and that is important.
Baylor is going to have to find a way to turn Byrum Brown and this Auburn offense multiple times. Redding has shown the skillset to do so, and will have to put those skills on full display. The Auburn offense is not afraid to take shots, so Redding is going to have to have his head on a swivel and be ready to run.
The final key player for Baylor is senior defensive end Kyler Jordan. Jordan has never had more than 18 total tackles in a season. Statistically, last season was his best season with 18 tackles, one pass deflection, and one sack. The way you frustrate an offense is by disrupting their rhythm and hitting the quarterback. As the now-starting defensive end, Jordan is going to have to step up and have his best season yet. If Jordan can start the season with at least one sack against Auburn and build on what his career has been so far, then he can help Baylor win. He and his defensive line teammates are going to have to create havoc and make Byrum Brown uncomfortable. If they do that, then Baylor can win.
Key Auburn Defensive Players
Auburn lost two edge rushers to the NFL draft, and at least one more to the transfer portal. That makes Jared Smith a key player for this game and this season for Auburn.
As a true freshman last season, Smith was allowed to rush the passer and attack the quarterback in a few instances. When he did so, you saw an explosive amount of speed on the edge, so now the question is: can he step up to be more than a one-trick pony? Even if he is just a one-trick pony, he will be gosh darn effective at doing so. In limited snaps, Smith had two sacks and five total tackles with one forced fumble. Smith will have to significantly increase these numbers for Auburn’s pass rush to be effective, and he can do it.
A name that a lot of people outside of Auburn may not have heard of is Cody Sigler. Sigler is a transfer interior defensive lineman from Arkansas State (and previously West Alabama) that is going to be a problem this season. At Arkansas State, Sigler posted 35 tackles, six pass breakups, and five sacks. At 6-foot-2 and 308 pounds, Sigler is going to have to create pressure on the interior. Sigler’s ability to create pressure and clog gaps is key to this defense. He will have help from Dallas Walker, but Sigler is the key to the whole defensive scheme working the way DJ Durkin wants it to. Be on the lookout for the Red Mamba.
The final key player for Auburn is the best or second-best player on Auburn’s team this season, and that is All-American linebacker Xavier Atkins. After transferring to Auburn last year from LSU, Atkins posted an All-American season and looks to run it back. He had 84 total tackles, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles, one interception, and a team-leading nine sacks. Atkins is the leader of this defense. If the defensive line does its job creating pressure, then Atkins can continue to be a heat-seeking missile. The pressure is on Atkins to continue his level of play and help maintain what has been a top 35 defense in college football the past two season.
Game Predictions
After the glowing comments about DJ Lagway, the transition to a new staff for Auburn, and new players on both teams it is time for a prediction.
Auburn wins this game 41-14 due to an overwhelming talent gap in the trenches.
Baylor has lost too much with a lack of proven production to replace it, while Auburn has improved from a coaching standpoint, and brought players that understand the scheme. Not to mention, Auburn maintained a lot of thier defense from last season and probably has one of the best linebacker rooms in the country. The one position group that has not been discussed in Auburn’s defense could also compete to be one of the best in the country, and that is their safety room. These two position groups alone should overwhelm Lagway and the running game so that Baylor is one-dimensional. Lagway is not as good of a passer as Sawyer Robertson (though he is still good), and has had a problem with interceptions. Because of this Baylor loses and Auburn wins.
Recruiting Roundup
Auburn’s first full recruiting class is shaping up well under Alex Golesh. The Tigers currently sit at No. 12 in the 2027 recruiting class rankings. Currently with 25 commits, the Tigers class seems to be set.
Some players to watch that are already in their class are three-star quarterback Gary Chatman Jr. and four-star running back Myson Johnson-Cook. Both of these players could see a rise in star ranking.
Auburn also already has their quarterback in the 2028 class with Sam Sollie. Auburn fans need to remember the names Karlos May, and Tae Walden Jr. Auburn will pursue both of these players and look to flip them from Ohio State and Oregon respectively.
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