Overview

• Auburn’s pass protection is viewed as the deciding factor, with four returning starters plus transfer LT Xavier Chaplin tasked with keeping QB Jackson Arnold clean against Dave Aranda’s pressure schemes.
• Kicker Alex McPherson is questionable due to a lingering gastrointestinal issue, and Hugh Freeze said multiple kickers could be used by distance with Towns McGough likely first up and Connor Gibbs close behind.
• Special-teams reliability looms large after McGough went 5-for-12 on field goals last season, while Gibbs converted 10 of 13 at Southern Miss in 2024.
• Coaches cautioned that openers often hinge on mistakes, with Freeze and Aranda emphasizing turnover avoidance and early execution in what is expected to be a close game.
• The Montgomery Advertiser predicts a 31-27 Auburn win at Baylor and projects an 8-4 season for the Tigers.