Three Storylines to Watch in Auburn’s Season‑Opening Clash with Baylor

Saturday’s game at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium will be more than just a non‑conference opener for the Auburn Tigers. It marks the first battle for new head coach Alex Golesh, who’s bringing a slice of his USF playbook to the Plains. In addition, the Tigers will be facing a familiar foe in former Baylor running back Bryson Washington, while the defensive front tries to stitch together a patchwork of newcomers. All of that gives us three pretty compelling storylines to keep an eye on.

Will Golesh’s offense click right out of the gate? The answer isn’t simple, but the clues are there. Golesh’s USF squads were a juggernaut last season, ranking third nationally in yards per game and sitting in the top five for points per contest, averaging just over 40 points a night. He’s also reunited with quarterback Byrum Brown – the two spent three years together in Tampa, so there’s already a rapport that can’t be bought.

That said, Auburn’s last encounter with Baylor under Hugh Freeze was a high‑scoring affair, with the Tigers dropping 38 points on the Bears in Waco while racking up more than 300 rushing yards. Golesh’s system is a tad more balanced, so we might not see the same ground‑gaining explosion. Still, the question remains: how many points does Golesh need to feel his offense is on track? If the Tigers can get into the 30‑plus range while moving the ball through the air and on the ground, that would probably be a sweet spot, especially with a brand‑new defensive coordinator in Joe Klanderman trying to keep the Bears honest.

The defensive line – can it anchor a new Auburn identity? Auburn entered the offseason with a few big holes to fill. Edge rushers Keyron Crawford and Kendric Faulk departed for the NFL, and defensive tackle Mailk Blocton chose LSU. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has been busy, adding Ole Miss graduate Da’Shawn Womack to the edge and pulling in Arkansas State’s Cody Sigler, who’s been touted as one of the most efficient interior linemen in the country.

The Tigers will need those guys to set the tone early, especially against Baylor quarterback D.J. Lagway, who showed flashes of promise in his first year. If Auburn can disrupt the Bears’ run game and force Lagway into uncomfortable throws, the rest of the defense can breathe easier. In short, the first few snaps in the trenches could dictate the entire contest.

Bryson Washington – a former Bear back in tiger‑colored shoes. It’s a storyline that writes itself. Just a year ago, Washington led Baylor with 54 yards on 14 carries, a solid showing that earned him a transfer to Auburn. He won’t start the game – Jeremiah Cobb is expected to get the early carries – but Washington’s familiarity with the Bears’ defensive schemes (and coach Dave Aranda’s tendencies) could make him a sneaky weapon. Emotions may run high, but if he can carve out a few key runs or even just keep the Bears guessing, he’ll have justified the move.

All three angles – the offensive chemistry between Golesh and Brown, the revamped defensive front, and Washington’s revenge‑type motivation – will intertwine as the Tigers try to sweep this two‑game series. It’s a lot to process, but that’s exactly why this Week 1 matchup feels like a micro‑cosm of the season ahead: new faces, new schemes, and the ever‑present desire to win the next four‑down battle.

So, whether you’re a die‑hard Auburn fan or just a neutral observer, keep these threads in mind as the cameras roll in Atlanta. You never know which one will be the deciding factor, but one thing’s for sure – the Tigers are itching to make a statement, and Baylor is about to find out what that looks like.