WACO, Texas — Ever since Hugh Freeze arrived on The Plains, he has said success would take time. Friday night’s matchup kicked off year three for Freeze and company, and it was time to see results.
After back-to-back losing seasons, the Auburn family finally got the results it had been waiting for. The Tigers took down Baylor 38-24, announcing to the college football world that they’re back.
“I’m thrilled for our fans and team,” Freeze said. “I’m thankful for our Auburn fans. We’re grateful we could find a way to win against a gritty, mature team in Baylor.”
Although Auburn will be taking a happy flight back to The Plains, things didn’t start out pretty for the orange and blue. Quarterback Jackson Arnold and company went three-and-out on their first series of the season. The Bears then drove 62 yards and had all the momentum. But their drive stalled at the 3-yard line after an incompletion by Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who finished 27-of-48 passing for 419 yards and three touchdowns.
After Auburn’s defense bent but didn’t break, Arnold capped a 12-play, 96-yard drive with his first rushing touchdown of the night — the program’s longest drive in a road game since the 2020 Iron Bowl. The Oklahoma transfer finished his Auburn debut with 137 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with 108 yards through the air. The junior quarterback was unstoppable on the ground, finishing with six runs of at least 10 yards.
It wasn’t just Arnold who ran all over the Bears’ defense. The duo of Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb combined for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
“Three things are certain: death, taxes, and Auburn running the football," Alston said, walking out of the interview room.
Following a three-and-out by Baylor’s offense, Auburn looked to strike again. The Tigers once again drove down the field, this time with Alston punching it in for six to extend the lead to 14-3. Auburn’s 130 rushing yards on back-to-back scoring drives exceeded the total rushing yards they recorded in each of last season’s losses to California, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Alabama.
With 58 seconds left in the third quarter, Robertson and the Bears cut Auburn’s lead to 24-17. McLane Stadium was rocking, and the Baylor faithful hoped to get the ball back with a chance to tie the game.
Auburn special teamer Rayshawn Pleasant had other plans, returning the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown — the Tigers’ first kick return score since the 2019 Outback Bowl.
Baylor battled back, cutting the deficit to seven on Robertson’s third touchdown pass of the night, this one to Michael Trigg. According to Freeze, Auburn’s defense, which allowed 419 passing yards, wasn’t up to his standard.
“I’ll have to go back and talk to our strength staff," Freeze said. “I thought we were a little tired."
Tonight was the first time since 2016 that Auburn allowed more than 400 passing yards and still won.
With just under five minutes to play, Freeze and the Tigers’ offense faced a critical fourth-and-1. Arnold, the former five-star recruit, called his own number and effectively sealed the victory for Auburn with his second rushing touchdown of the game.
“Coach Freeze just asked me what play I wanted, and I told him,” Arnold told FOX about his fourth-down touchdown. “Just give me the ball and let’s run it.”
Auburn will be back in action next Saturday against Ball State at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST, and the game will be televised on ESPU.
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Rory is a sophomore majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @RorymGarvin
