The Auburn Tigers are just days away from opening the 2026 season against the Baylor Bears in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Tigers would love nothing more than to start the Alex Golesh era with a win, which would be a great start toward building momentum for the rest of the season. However, Auburn is one of two SEC teams facing a Power Five opponent in Week 1, which will provide the Tigers with a great challenge early in the season.
The Tigers and Bears met in Week 1 of the 2025 season, with Auburn taking down home-standing Baylor, 38-24, in Waco. Both teams would go on to finish the season with 5-7 records; however, only one team will begin the season with a new coach.
Auburn fired Hugh Freeze and later hired Alex Golesh, while
Dave Aranda gets one more season with Baylor. However, he starts the season on the hot seat, and a win over Auburn would do wonders for his job security. A game of this magnitude could go either way, but here are five reasons why Auburn football could struggle against Baylor on Saturday in Atlanta.
If DJ Lagway scorches the secondary
Despite winning last season's game in Waco, Auburn struggled to defend Baylor's passing game. Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson passed for 419 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn's quality secondary. This season, Florida transfer DJ Lagway takes over as the starting quarterback for the Bears and is hungry for the chance to prove his worth at the highest level.
If he gets hot in the passing game, Auburn could be in trouble.
If the offensive line needs more time to gel
Auburn football landed a plethora of talented, experienced offensive linemen through the transfer portal. However, it will be the first time this particular unit has hit the field for the Auburn Tigers. Even though there is uncertainty with the offensive line, Byrum Brown's center, Cole Best, joins Auburn's roster in the same role.
However, if the rest of Auburn's offensive line is not meshing well on Saturday, it could spell doom for Auburn.
If the new pass rush is slow to start
Like the offensive line, Auburn's pass rushers will be fresh this season. Following the departures of Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford to the NFL, Ole Miss transfer Da'shawn Womack and highly touted sophomore Jared Smith take over. If Baylor finds a way to defend the edge rush well, or if Lagway is able to get passes off easily, Baylor could find success.
If Dawson Pendergrass breaks loose
Baylor's passing game will, of course, be worth monitoring, but Auburn could be in more trouble if the run game is just as successful. Dawson Pendergrass missed last season due to a foot injury and is poised for a breakout season in 2026. Pendergrass and Lagway could push the Bears to victory if they combine to torch the Auburn defense.
If the chip on Dave Aranda's shoulder is too heavy
It is no secret that Baylor head coach Dave Aranda needs a successful season in Waco to keep his job. That may be enough motivation for him and the team to come out with high energy and to get a win. Sure, there will be plenty of buzz surrounding Auburn and new head coach Alex Golesh, but if Aranda's energy is bigger, it could spell disaster for Auburn.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Five reasons why Auburn football could struggle with Baylor in Week 1
