Auburn Opens 2025 Season with Ground Game Dominance in 38–24 Win Over Baylor

August 29, 2025 - WACO, TX - In a gritty road showdown under the Friday night lights at McLane Stadium, the Auburn Tigers kicked off their 2025 campaign with a resounding 38–24 victory over the Baylor Bears. It wasn't the aerial fireworks many expected from head coach Hugh Freeze's revamped offense-it was a bruising, relentless ground attack that carried the Tigers to victory.

Jackson Arnold's Dual-Threat Debut

All eyes were on Jackson Arnold, the former five-star Oklahoma transfer making his debut as Auburn's starting quarterback. While his passing numbers were modest-11 completions on 17 attempts for 108 yards-it was his legs that stole the show. Arnold rushed for a game-high 137 yards and two touchdowns, including a poetic 27-yard scamper on fourth down late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

"Honestly, no, I didn't think I'd run that much," Arnold said postgame. "But I'll do whatever it takes to help this team win."

His first touchdown came on a 24-yard keeper that capped a 96-yard drive in the first quarter. That drive was sparked by a fourth-down stop by Auburn's defense, setting the tone for a night where the Tigers would capitalize on Baylor's missed opportunities.

Running Back Tandem Delivers

With Jarquez Hunter gone, Auburn leaned on junior Jeremiah Cobb and senior Damari Alston to carry the load. They delivered in full. Cobb rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Alston added 84 yards and a score of his own. Together, the trio of Arnold, Cobb, and Alston combined for 295 of Auburn's 307 rushing yards.

"We already knew what we were going to do," Alston said. "All our hard work is now starting to pay off. But man, we're just getting started. That's just Game 1."

Special Teams Spark

One of the game's most electrifying moments came courtesy of Rayshawn Pleasant, a transfer from Tulane known for his return prowess. Late in the third quarter, Pleasant took a kickoff 98 yards to the house, flipping momentum and extending Auburn's lead to 31–17. It was his first return touchdown as a Tiger and a reminder of the impact special teams can have in close contests.

Baylor's Air Raid Comes Up Short

Despite the loss, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson put up gaudy numbers, throwing for 419 yards and three touchdowns. He connected on two fourth-down scores, including a 33-yard strike to Alabama transfer Kobe Prentice and a 4-yard toss to freshman Caiden Knighten. Robertson's arm kept Baylor in the game, but his 52.5% completion rate and two failed fourth-down conversions proved costly.

"We needed to create some momentum and keep the ball," Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said. "But we missed too many tackles and gave up too many big plays."

The Bears managed just 67 rushing yards, a stark contrast to Auburn's dominance on the ground. Their inability to establish balance made them one-dimensional, and Auburn's defense took advantage.

Freeze's Third Season Begins with Promise

For Hugh Freeze, now in his third year at the helm, the win marks a promising start to a season filled with expectations. After back-to-back losing seasons, Auburn fans are hungry for a turnaround. Friday night's performance-while not flawless-showed grit, adaptability, and a willingness to lean into strengths.

"I thought we looked a little sluggish," Freeze admitted. "But to see us fight through that and find a way to get a win against a good opponent to open the year-we can really build upon it."

Looking Ahead

Auburn returns home next week to face Ball State on September 6, while Baylor travels to Dallas to take on No. 16 SMU. For the Tigers, the focus will be on shoring up their pass defense, which gave up over 400 yards through the air. But if the ground game continues to perform at this level, Auburn could be a dark horse in the SEC this season.