In a game called by one of the most successful mobile quarterbacks of his era, former Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, it felt only appropriate that Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold finished with a career rushing night.
In the Tigers’ impressive road victory over Griffin’s alma mater Friday night, Arnold led Auburn’s dominant rushing attack, scoring the first and last touchdowns of the game and racking up more than 130 yards on the ground. It was an impressive debut for the former five-star Oklahoma recruit. Arnold exhibited bursts of speed for a quarterback while also showcasing his ability to turn seemingly lost plays into meaningful gains.
There were multiple moments in the Tigers’ 38-24 victory over the Bears in which Arnold was able to successfully escape the pocket and earn a hard-fought first down. The junior eclipsed his single-game rushing yard record in just his first game under the Auburn offense led by Hugh Freeze and Derrick Nix.
Although Arnold and the Tigers’ offense appeared to be firing on all cylinders for most of the game, Auburn was not particularly aggressive in the passing game. According to Arnold, this was largely due to simply feeding the hot hand and sticking with what was working.
“We just took what the defense gave us,” Arnold said multiple times alongside Freeze during the postgame press conference.
It’s hard to argue with that statement—Arnold and Auburn’s electric running back duo of Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb combined for nearly 300 yards rushing, averaging almost six yards per carry.
The Tigers’ run blocking was exceptional throughout the game. Auburn’s offense consistently produced long, meaningful drives on every possession while avoiding turnovers in its impressive Week 1 victory.
Despite the strong start for Auburn’s offense Friday night, Arnold and the Tigers will likely look to incorporate the passing game more heavily over the next two matchups before the start of SEC play.
It’s hard not to be optimistic about Auburn’s Week 1 win against Baylor to kick off the 2025 season. The Tigers’ rushing attack looked absolutely unstoppable, and Arnold appeared both comfortable and eager to embrace his role as a dual-threat quarterback. If the passing game continues to develop throughout the season and the running game maintains its dominance from Friday night, Auburn’s offense could soon become a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.
Heading into the game, many wondered whether Arnold would look comfortable in his first outing under a new scheme. He quickly put those questions to rest, showing that a new play-caller didn’t faze the new face of the quarterback room.
Heading into Auburn’s Week 2 matchup against the Ball State Cardinals, it will be interesting to see whether Freeze continues to ride the hot hand in the run game or attempts to jumpstart the passing attack. Either way, a two-touchdown win over a tough and gritty opponent like the Baylor Bears should not be taken for granted.
It was an impressive performance from Arnold and the newly shaped Auburn offense—and hopefully, a sign of things to come for a Tigers football team aiming to secure its first winning season since 2020.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
