The Auburn Tigers open their season against the Baylor Bears Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Fans can stream the game on ABC using free trials from major services, as outlined by syracuse.com.
FuboTV’s Pro package lists at $88.99 and DIRECTV’s Entertainment package lists at $89.99, with both services offering free-trial windows and short first-month promos. DIRECTV lists a $30-off first-month promo while FuboTV lists $25 off the first month on plans that carry ABC, and those offers can change by market.
Key Takeaways
- The game airs on ABC and can be streamed using free trials for DIRECTV and FuboTV, which carry ABC on their base packages.
- Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a neutral-site rematch between the two programs.
- Auburn begins year one under Alex Golesh after both programs finished 5-7 in 2025 and Auburn opened last season with a 38-24 win over Baylor in Waco.
- Baylor brings DJ Lagway at quarterback and comes off a 2025 offense that averaged 31.1 points per game.
Auburn’s new era under Alex Golesh
Auburn’s Week 1 game is as much about on-field identity as it is about viewing options for fans.
Alex Golesh arrives from South Florida for his first season and has reshaped the offense with several familiar pieces from his former staff.
Golesh’s scheme aims for a faster tempo and more dynamic play designs, and much of Auburn’s immediate identity will hinge on how quickly those pieces coalesce.
Auburn opened last year’s meeting with Baylor in Waco with a 38-24 victory, and both programs enter this neutral-site rematch after 5-7 records in 2025.
Quarterback Byrum Brown followed Golesh from South Florida after a breakout 2025 that included 3,158 passing yards, 28 touchdown passes and 14 rushing touchdowns.
Brown’s dual-threat profile is central to Auburn’s hoped-for offensive lift and will be the primary matchup focal point against Baylor’s revamped defense.
The original reporting includes affiliate disclosure language about potential compensation from links and notes that AI tools assisted the drafting process with staff review of the piece.
Baylor offense and key personnel
Baylor arrives in Atlanta with DJ Lagway at quarterback after his transfer from Florida.
Lagway steps into an offense that threw for 31 touchdowns last season and averaged 31.1 points per game in 2025.
Lagway provides arm talent that gives Baylor legitimate vertical-threat upside, but the reporting notes that his production is not guaranteed after two seasons of mixed results.
On the defensive side and across skill groups, Baylor will look to clean up situational play and turnover margins in front of a neutral crowd, while Auburn will test those corrections with an offense designed to speed the rhythm and create mismatches.
Rematch and 2025 season comparison
| Team | 2025 Record | Notable 2025 Offensive Context | Last Meeting (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 5-7 | Byrum Brown: 3,158 passing yards, 28 pass TDs, 14 rush TDs | W 38-24 vs Baylor in Waco |
| Baylor | 5-7 | Team averaged 31.1 points per game and threw for 31 touchdowns in 2025 | L 24-38 vs Auburn in Waco |
What this neutral-site rematch means for Auburn’s SEC resume
A neutral-site Week 1 victory in Atlanta carries outsized perception value for Auburn as it opens a new coaching era.
A strong performance helps build early momentum in recruiting conversations and offers a tangible example of roster construction under Golesh’s system.
While one nonconference neutral-site win won’t determine SEC pecking order, it can shape early narratives and affect how the program pitches development to prospects.
For Auburn specifically, the matchup provides a first look at whether Golesh’s offensive blueprint translates at a Power Four level and how the roster fits that plan.
Auburn will need consistent results beyond Week 1, but the rematch gives the staff an early data point to present to recruits and local stakeholders.
