Hugh Freeze describes the challenge of facing Baylor in Week 1 instead of smaller name school

Auburn kicks off the 2025 campaign with an interesting Week 1 matchup — a true road game against the Baylor Bears. It’s an intriguing starting point for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers entering a pivotal season in his tenure.

The Tigers have been known for having a tough schedule in the past. Now adding a power conference opponent to the front end of what becomes loaded SEC schedule makes returning to Auburn with a victory all the more important. Auburn will have to face Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Georgia, Missouri and Alabama, among others, down the stretch in conference play.

“The game is vital,” Freeze said of Baylor at SEC Media Days. “It’s important to our season to get off — we’re going to be playing in a difficult environment against a really good football team coached by Dave Aranda. So when you put all of that on paper, the importance of it, there’s no question that our focus throughout fall camp should be heightened.

“And this is not a game that you open up with. If you sleepwalk at all and expect to win — that sense of urgency should be seen all throughout campus as we get ready for that one. I kind of get excited about that, and I think our kids will follow.”

They will still have the benefit of playing three Group of 5 opponents, however. The rest of Auburn’s non-conference schedule consists of Ball State in Week 2, South Alabama in Week 3 and then against Mercer in Week 13 before the Iron Bowl to round out the regular season on Nov. 29.

Auburn will face a softer spot in their schedule toward the end of October and into November. They will travel to Arkansas, host Kentucky and travel to Vanderbilt in consecutive matchups.

Before they get there, the Tigers appear fully focused on the task at hand: beating Baylor on their home turf to kick off the 2025 regular season. That may be easier said than done, as the Bears are coming off its best season (8-5) since winning 12 games in 2021.

Head coach Dave Aranda and his staff have loaded up with a top-20 incoming transfer portal class and the fourth-best incoming high school class in the Big 12 Conference. Auburn could have their work cut out for them after a respectable offseason in Waco.

The Week 1 matchup between the Bears and Freeze’s Tigers is scheduled for a special Friday night kickoff leading into the main course of college football action the following day. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air live on FOX.