With Chance of Using Three QBs, Auburn Opens at Baylor

The Auburn Tigers enter 2025 with more questions than answers under center. When Hugh Freeze landed Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold — once a five-star recruit — the assumption was that the Tigers had found their starting quarterback.

But Arnold has not cemented his place. Despite a lucrative NIL deal worth nearly $2.5 million, his preseason performances raised doubts. His 5.8 yards per attempt last season with the Sooners didn’t inspire much confidence, and reports from practice suggest the coaching staff even had defenders “back off” to help his rhythm.

That indecision has opened the door for Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels and true freshman Deuce Knight to both see snaps in the season opener against Baylor.

Auburn QB competition at a glance

Freeze made it clear he won’t hesitate to rotate signal-callers:
“Without giving away too much, I think there’s a place for both of those guys that you can play to their strengths. We won’t be afraid to do that.”

Hugh Freeze under pressure

This season marks Freeze’s third at Auburn, and so far, he has yet to deliver a winning record. The Tigers finished 5-7 in 2024 and 6-7 in 2023, far from the program’s lofty expectations.

Offensive instability has been at the heart of Auburn’s struggles. With Arnold, Daniels, and Knight all in play, Freeze’s biggest task is finding consistency — or at least designing game plans that maximize each QB’s strengths.

For fans and bettors, the college football picks market reflects Auburn’s uncertainty. Oddsmakers often fade programs with QB instability, especially early in the year.

Baylor’s stability behind Sawyer Robertson

While Auburn shuffles quarterbacks, Baylor enjoys continuity. Junior Sawyer Robertson returns for his second full season as the Bears’ starter after a breakout 2024 campaign.

Robertson threw for 3,071 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. His command of the offense and improvement from 2023 (when Baylor went 3-9) fueled the team’s turnaround.

Robertson isn’t flashy, but he’s efficient and poised. His leadership was central to Baylor’s six-game win streak that closed last season before a Texas Bowl loss to LSU.

Sawyer Robertson’s 2024 season

Robertson described the team’s mindset heading into 2025:
“A lot of the guys that are here right now, and that had roles in last year’s successful season, were also on that 3-9 team when nobody liked us. So just keeping that chip on our shoulder is the main thing.”

Baylor’s revival under Dave Aranda

After a disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2023, head coach Dave Aranda was on the hot seat. But in 2024, the Bears bounced back with an 8-5 record and a trip to the Texas Bowl. The turnaround restored belief in the program and showed that the roster buy-in was real.

Baylor’s offense leaned on balance — a reliable ground game paired with Robertson’s efficient passing. The defense also improved, particularly in red-zone situations, giving them a chance to compete with top Big 12 programs.

For those tracking college football teams, Baylor has become one of the Big 12’s more intriguing sleepers heading into 2025.

Game Day Domination

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Keys to victory

Auburn Tigers

• Quarterback clarity: Whether Arnold, Daniels, or Knight, someone needs to establish momentum early.
• Run support: Auburn must lean on its ground game to ease pressure on the QBs.
• Defensive discipline: Baylor thrives when opponents make mistakes — Auburn can’t afford turnovers.

Baylor Bears

• Ride Robertson’s rhythm: The junior QB should exploit Auburn’s defensive coverages.
• Contain Auburn’s QB rotation: Multiple signal-callers could mean multiple schemes.
• Protect the football: Auburn’s defense is opportunistic when given chances.

Betting and playoff outlook

While neither team is projected as a College Football Playoff contender, the stakes remain high.

• For Auburn: This opener will set the tone for Freeze’s third season. A messy quarterback rotation could raise red flags early.
• For Baylor: A win would solidify them as a legitimate Big 12 dark horse, continuing their rebound.

According to the latest college football scores and odds, Baylor opened as a slight favorite at home, thanks to stability at QB and a proven system.

For bettors looking beyond the spread, the NFL expert betting guide offers strategies on evaluating quarterback rotations and their effect on totals.

Prediction outlook

This opener feels like a contrast in identity. Auburn is still searching for answers, while Baylor is building on continuity.

Expect Auburn to cycle through all three quarterbacks, trying to find the hot hand. But against a disciplined Baylor defense and a confident Robertson at home, the Bears may have the edge.

Conclusion

Friday night’s Auburn–Baylor clash will be about more than just a season opener. It’s a test of direction: Auburn’s search for quarterback stability against Baylor’s pursuit of sustained growth.

For Hugh Freeze, patience is wearing thin. For Dave Aranda, this is an opportunity to cement Baylor’s resurgence.

And for fans, it’s an early-season matchup that blends drama, uncertainty, and the kind of intensity only college football can deliver.