Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO David Epps sees the Week 1 Aflac Kickoff Game between the Auburn Tigers and Baylor Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 5 as an even matchup between two teams on the same level in the SEC and Big 12, respectively.
Epps told me that AU was chosen because of its history and relevance to the South, not because of recent results. He meant it with respect to the Bears, but the comparison means the Tigers have slipped in a big way in the viewpoints of top industry figures.
Epps explained how it's important as a data point to have this game on the schedule when it comes time for the CFP selection committee to curate its 12-team field.
"At the end of the season, what a lot of people talk about is whether or not a team should make the playoff. Should a team not make the playoff, they look at quality wins and quality losses. And everybody is always interested in saying, 'Okay. This team beat a team in the Big 12, and this team beat a team in the SEC. How do those wins compare?' One of, I think, the interesting storylines behind this game is that you're gonna have two teams in Baylor and Auburn, who are both probably about the same level within their conferences right now," Epps told me.
"So you're gonna get a really interesting SEC versus Big 12 data point. I think right off the bat, to ask, 'How does an upper-middle-tier team in both conferences compare to each other?' I think there's an interesting angle there that could play itself out as you get down the road and look at who should make the playoff."
Auburn may actually be below Baylor in the NIL era
Many Auburn fans find themselves clowning Baylor head coach Dave Aranda for not resurrecting the Bears' defense over the years leading up to Week 1. The Tigers, of course, have won a national championship in the last 16 years. On the Plains, the initial reaction might be "no way" to what Epps said.
Then again, you have to recognize the times we're living in. 2010 data points don't apply to this modern world of college football. The Indiana Hoosiers are your reigning, undefeated national champions, after all.
In the NIL era since 2021, AU is 27-35. Baylor is 34-30 in that same timeframe. In 2021/2022, the Bears beat the Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl en route to 12 wins. Hell, Baylor won eight games just two years ago.
That comparison is actually favorable to the Tigers, if we're being honest.
Peach Bowl CEO David Epps predicts Auburn-Baylor ratings success
On the business side of the equation, the Aflac Kickoff Game this Labor Day weekend should do big viewership numbers. Epps told me he expects a major ratings showing because of the spot Auburn-Baylor has on the T.V. schedule.
Epps also recognized the Tigers as a potential SEC dark horse this fall under first-year head coach Alex Golesh.
"We don't necessarily book games with the expectation of ratings, but I will tell you that this is one of only a handful of Power 4 versus Power 4 matchups during Week 1. It's also in that prime spot on ABC, that 3:30 afternoon spot. So, we fully expect that this will do a great number. There's a lot of interest in the fan bases from both of these schools. They're both on an upward trajectory and probably have a bigger upside than some people believe, and then a lot of people feel like Auburn is sort of a dark horse SEC team that could surprise some people," Epps said.
"So, we think from fans and just casual college football fans, there's going to be a lot of interest in seeing how this game plays out. So I can't give you a number, but I can tell you that we think that there'll be a lot of eyeballs on it."
Even after a historic stretch of down years, industry insiders respect Auburn as a draw. Let's hope the Tigers can prove that the Bears are not on their level in a few Saturdays from now, though.
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