Paul Finebaum warns Auburn against losing season opener vs. Baylor

The Auburn Tigers are looking to bounce back from missing a bowl last season. There’s no easing into the 2025 season, though, with a road trip to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears for the season opener.

On McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, analyst Paul Finebaum broke down what to expect from that game between Auburn and Baylor. In particular, he warned that the Bears are going to be ready, and if things go sideways there, it could be a sign of things to come in 2025.

“Yes,” Paul Finebaum said. “It’s the first one. It’s the Friday night game against Baylor. I don’t think a lot of people take Baylor seriously. You’ve been there. You understand what that stadium can be like, especially on a Friday night opening the season. Again, the big SEC school.”

Hugh Freeze is going into his third season of a rebuild at Auburn. In his first two seasons, he’s led the Tigers to an 11-14 record overall, making one bowl. That was a loss in the 2023 Music City Bowl. Expectations are higher for the program than that. Baylor, meanwhile, is led by Dave Aranda. The Bears have been inconsistent during his tenure there, but there are hopes they’ll compete to win the Big 12 next season. So, it’s not a pushover of an opponent to open a season full of question marks.

Ultimately, Paul Finebaum’s concern goes beyond the game itself. It’s a game that Auburn expects to win but could easily lose. A loss could then start the Tigers down a difficult path with a difficult upcoming schedule to overcome.

“The reason why I think it’s so important is that if Auburn loses that game, that’s one that most people believe they should win. Then, they’re suddenly behind the curtain where every swing game becomes magnified. I think, for that reason, it is the most important game on the schedule,” Finebaum said. “That doesn’t mean other games won’t matter. Of course they will. The Alabama game at the end of the year is a game you’ll hear a lot of people say Auburn has a chance to win, whatever that means.”

Auburn is set to take on Baylor on Friday, August 29th. That game is going to be a prime time matchup, with kickoff currently scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST.

“So, I’m really focused on that game. At the moment, I think Auburn will win,” Finebaum said. “But if they don’t, then the season could really, legitimately get off the rails.”