Auburn, Jackson Arnold pick up Week 1 win at Baylor
Auburn and Baylor both enter 2025 with major expectations circling both programs. Hugh Freeze enters Year 3 after bringing in a 20-player transfer portal haul, highlighted by Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold. Dave Aranda coached his way off the hot seat a year ago, as Baylor finished 8-5 and 6-3 in Big 12 play.
Friday night provides the chance for both programs to set the narrative of the 2025 season, entering the Labor Day weekend. Auburn is a 1-point favorite entering Friday night in Waco, according to BetMGM. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Jason Benetti and Robert Griffin III are on the call.
On3’s live blog will track the Big 12-SEC matchup with live updates, analysis and instant reaction. Follow along for the latest on Auburn at Baylor.
Final: Auburn 38, Baylor 24
08/29/2025 10:36:01 PMIn the debut of the Jackson Arnold era at Auburn, the Oklahoma transfer quarterback rushed for two touchdowns and 137 yards to open the 2025 season 1-0.
4Q, 1:17: Baylor turnover on downs
08/29/2025 10:32:58 PMFacing a 4th-and-1 with only 1:17 remaining, Baylor opted to take a shot at the end zone. But quarterback Sawyer Robertson’s shot to Michael Trigg fell incomplete, forcing a turnover on downs. Auburn takes over at its 11-yard line.
Amaris Williams limps off field
08/29/2025 10:25:27 PMAuburn sophomore defensive lineman Amaris Williams was helped off the field late in the fourth quarter against Baylor. He’s a former four-star recruit and a big piece of Auburn’s defensive line in 2025.
🚨 4Q, 4:32: Auburn 38, Baylor 24
08/29/2025 10:25:35 PMAuburn quarterback Jackson Arnold broke free from the line of scrimmage on 4th-and-1 for a 24-yard touchdown run, his second rushing touchdown of the night. The Tigers lead by two touchdowns with less than five minutes remaining in Waco. Arnold has rushed for 134 yards on the night.
🚨 4Q, 11:48: Auburn 31, Baylor 24
08/29/2025 10:01:25 PMFormer USC and Ole Miss transfer tight end Michael Trigg pulled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Sawyer Robertson to cut the Baylor deficit to a touchdown. Trigg has six catches for 87 yards on the night.
Baylor’s 50-yard run called back
08/29/2025 09:58:03 PMA Bryson Washington 50-yard run up the middle to the Auburn 2-yard line was called back for holding, bringing Baylor back to the Auburn 50-yard line with 14:45 to play.
🚨 3Q, 0:43: Auburn 31, Baylor 17
08/29/2025 09:47:07 PMTulane transfer defensive back Rayshawn Pleasant returned the Baylor kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, flashing his speed and extending Auburn’s lead.
🚨 3Q, 0:58: Auburn 24, Baylor 17
08/29/2025 09:42:34 PMFacing a 4th-and-4 from inside the Auburn 10-yard line, Baylor was able to convert and cut the deficit to a touchdown. Sawyer Robertson threw a screen pass to Caden Knighten, who outran an Auburn defender for the touchdown.
🚨 3Q, 5:40: Auburn 24, Baylor 10
08/29/2025 09:28:21 PMAuburn running back Jeremiah Cobb‘s 2-yard touchdown plunge capped off a 9-play, 70-yard drive. The 4-minute, 12-second drive was highlighted with six runs for 50 yards as the Auburn offensive line dominated.
3Q, 9:52: Baylor punts
08/29/2025 09:21:04 PMFacing a 3rd-and-9 in the third quarter, Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk swatted a Sawyer Robertson pass for an incompletion and to force a Baylor punt. Auburn takes over on its 29-yard line with 9:52 to play in the third quarter, holding onto its 17-10 lead.
Jackie Marshall update
08/29/2025 09:11:03 PMBaylor starting defensive tackle Jackie Marshall has officially been ruled out for the remainder of the game, per the Fox broadcast. Has a boot on his foot.
Second half underway
08/29/2025 09:08:20 PMAuburn receives to open the second half and will take over on its 29-yard line.
Halftime: Auburn 17, Baylor 10
08/29/2025 08:40:21 PMAuburn carries a 17-10 lead into the half on the road at Baylor.
🚨 3:21: Auburn 17, Baylor 10
08/29/2025 08:21:56 PMFollowing the stop that forced an Auburn punt, Baylor turned around to put together a quick 8-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 33-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Alabama transfer wide receiver Kobe Prentice.
🚨 2Q, 5:45: Auburn 17, Baylor 3
08/29/2025 08:12:11 PMAuburn kicker Alex McPherson converted a 21-yard field goal to extend the Tigers’ lead to 17-3, capping off a 7-play, 41-yard drive.
2Q, 8:43: Baylor turnover on downs
08/29/2025 08:05:39 PMFacing a 4th-and-3 from their side of the field, the Bears could not pick up a first down with a Sawyer Robertson incomplete pass. Auburn takes over on the Baylor 44-yard line.
Bruce Pearl celebrates Auburn TD
08/29/2025 08:04:20 PMAuburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl is in Waco cheering on Hugh Freeze and the Tigers.
🚨 2Q, 10:29: Auburn 14, Baylor 3
08/29/2025 07:58:54 PMAuburn running back Damari Alston rushed for his first score of the night on a 9-yard run, capping off six consecutive runs on the 65-yard drive.
🚨1Q, 0:34: Auburn 7, Baylor 3
08/29/2025 07:46:54 PMJackson Arnold rushed for a 24-yard touchdown, marking his first touchdown at Auburn to cap a 96-yard drive. The Tigers rushed for 73 of their 96 yards on the 12-play drive. The Oklahoma transfer flashed his wheels to put Auburn up 7-3.
Baylor not called for targeting on Jackson Arnold run
08/29/2025 07:42:38 PMA 9-yard run from quarterback Jackson Arnold was not called for targeting, even after the play was reviewed.
“You want to see the head really get jarred,” Fox rules expert Mike Pereira said on the broadcast. “… Throughout the year, they have taken a more loosened approach to this.”
1Q, 6:27: Baylor turnover on downs
08/29/2025 07:30:41 PMThe Baylor offensive line gives quarterback Sawyer Robertson enough time on the Auburn blitz to connect with Kole Wilson for a 57-yard pass. The Bears could not punch in a touchdown, however, as Auburn pulled off a 4th-and-3 stop from inside its own 10.
Auburn goes 3-and-out
08/29/2025 07:23:38 PMAuburn goes 3-and-out on its first drive of the season, capped off by a Jackson Arnold scramble for no gain on 3rd down. Baylor will take over on its 35-yard line with 9:14 remaining in the first quarter.
🚨 1Q, 10:36: Baylor 3, Auburn 0
08/29/2025 07:17:18 PMBaylor kicker Connor Hawkins drilled a 36-yard field goal to cap off a 13-play, 56-yard drive that nearly spanned five minutes to open the season.
Baylor OL deals with cut on face
08/29/2025 07:16:52 PMBaylor starting center Coleton Price suffered a cut on his face on the Bears’ opening drive of the season.
Latest on Auburn kicker
08/29/2025 07:11:06 PMAuburn kicker Alex McPherson made the trip to Waco with the team. He’s been dealing with some strength issues of late as a result of his ulcerative colitis recovery. Hugh Freeze previously said McPherson was a game-time decision. He was kicking from around 35 yards out in pregame and is expected to give it a go.
Kickoff
08/29/2025 07:07:17 PMAuburn won the toss and deferred. Baylor starts from its 25-yard line.
What to know about Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson
08/29/2025 07:05:48 PMSawyer Robertson led the Bears to six consecutive wins to end the 2024 season before losing in a 44-31 shootout to LSU in the Texas Bowl. In those seven games, Robertson completed 145 of 226 passes (64.2 percent) for 2,025 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.
What to know about Auburn QB Jackson Arnold
08/29/2025 07:01:29 PMA former five-star recruit, Jackson Arnold transferred to Auburn following an up-and-down 2024 season at Oklahoma. He threw for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he also fumbled the ball nine times.
Arnold will be backed up by true freshman Deuce Knight and Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels. The Tigers were able to flip Knight from Notre Dame in his recruitment, and he turned heads in spring ball. He’s put on nearly 18 pounds since getting to campus, sources have told On3.
Baylor, Auburn headline Friday night of Week 1
08/29/2025 06:55:09 PMAuburn trails Baylor 2-1-1 all-time, and the road team is 2-0-1 in on-campus matchups. The series dates back to 1954, with the last meeting in 1976. The matchup at Baylor marks Auburn’s first true road game to begin a season since opening the 2002 season at USC.
Elsewhere in college football, Georgia Tech is visiting Colorado in an ACC-Big 12 clash.