Auburn's Week 1 opponent, Baylor, is being given major respect ahead of the 2025 season. CBS Sports' Chip Patterson projects the Bears as a potential at-large College Football Playoff bid and believes Baylor's first two opponents, AU and SMU, could define their season.
"The Big 12's best chance for an at-large team seems to be Baylor, which opens the year by hosting Auburn in Week 1 and then traveling to Dallas to take on last year's ACC runner-up in SMU. If the Bears, which we do project to be among the contenders for the Big 12 in 2025 with quarterback Sawyer Robertson leading the way, can sweep both games, they will enter Big 12 play with a respectable national ranking that can boost the profile of the entire conference. Other nonconference games of note here include Michigan traveling to Oklahoma and a renewal of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry. As the ACC and Big 12 battle for at-large respect, however, this game could end up playing a role in how teams are ranked at the end of the year," Patterson wrote.
Auburn will be facing former QB Walker White, who isn't likely to start. Though White may not see the field, he will be a storyline throughout the week and months leading into the matchup due to his noteworthy parting shot at Hugh Freeze's coaching staff.
"I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and get to work in Coach Spavital’s offense. I’m also excited that there’s a clear plan for quarterback development," White told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Baylor went 8-4 in 2024 with six straight wins to close the season and likely save Dave Aranda's head coaching job. The Bears are the Tigers' only Power 4 non-conference opponent. Ball State, South Alabama, and Mercer are their other three non-cons.