Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears: Season Opener Showdown in Waco

Friday, August 29, 2025 - WACO, TX - The Auburn University Tigers open the 2025 football season in Texas against the Baylor Bears.

Kickoff: 7:00 PM CDT

Location: McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas

Broadcast: FOX | Radio: SiriusXM Channels 190 (Auburn), 84 (Baylor)

The 2025 college football season kicks off with a high-stakes clash between two power-conference programs as the Auburn Tigers travel to Waco to face the Baylor Bears. It's Auburn's first true road opener in 23 years, and the pressure is on for head coach Hugh Freeze in his pivotal third season at the helm.

Storylines to Watch

• New Era for Auburn: After a disappointing 5–7 campaign in 2024, Auburn enters the Freeze era with renewed optimism. The Tigers have upgraded at quarterback with Jackson Arnold and added key transfers like Eric Singleton Jr. (WR) and Mason Murphy (OL).

• Baylor's Offensive Firepower: The Bears return nearly their entire offensive unit from last season's 8-win team. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson leads a confident squad looking to prove their 2024 finish wasn't a fluke.

• Fresh Faces to Watch: Auburn's freshman running back Omar Mabson has drawn comparisons to Jarquez Hunter, while defensive lineman Jourdin Crawford is already turning heads in camp.

Matchup Insights

Auburn was just 5 and 7 last year while Baylor finished 8 and 5. Auburn hopes that transfer players, particularly Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold, will improve the Auburn passing game; while the strength of Baylor is their returning starters. Odds makers have Auburn a slight favorite with computer prognosticators giving Auburn just a 51.9% chance of victory. Baylor hopes that their homefield advantage will give them the early win. Auburn has not won seven games since 2019 when Gus Malzahn was the head coach. A poor start and a difficult schedule could put pressure on Coach Hugh Freeze as he enters his third year on the Plains.

What's at Stake

For Auburn, tonight's game is more than just a season opener-it's a litmus test for a program trying to climb back into SEC relevance. A win on the road against a solid Baylor team could set the tone for a breakout season. For Baylor, it's a chance to defend home turf and prove they're ready to contend in the Big 12.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)