Auburn is set to face Baylor in its Week 1 college football matchup, with the Tigers entering the game as 7.5-point favorites. The team's new head coach, Alex Golesh, and his new quarterback, Byrum Brown, aim to establish momentum from the outset.
Last season, Florida's quarterback DJ Lagway was a highly touted prospect. However, a Week 2 loss to South Florida, then led by quarterback Byrum Brown and coach Alex Golesh, disrupted Florida's trajectory. Both Golesh and Brown have since joined the Auburn program.
Under Golesh, Auburn's strategy appears centered on leveraging Brown's dual-threat capabilities. Brown, who previously played for USF, amassed 3,158 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, alongside 1,121 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in the previous season. This marks the second time in three years he has surpassed 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single campaign.
For Baylor, the upcoming season presents questions at the quarterback position with DJ Lagway. While Lagway possesses a strong arm, his consistency in his first two years at Florida was inconsistent. Furthermore, Baylor's offense is largely a new unit in 2026, and the team's defense struggled last season and is also undergoing significant changes.
Expectations are that Golesh and Brown will be prepared to start strong for Auburn, while Baylor may require more time to find its rhythm. The game is scheduled to take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.