Auburn opened the Alex Golesh era with a dramatic 17-16 victory over Baylor, but the narrow escape exposed several issues that could become much more significant as the Tigers move toward tougher SEC competition.
The biggest concern is developing along the offensive line. Auburn managed only 130 rushing yards against Baylor, while quarterback Byrum Brown was sacked five times. Golesh acknowledged that the interior line struggled with twists and getting to the second level, raising questions about whether the unit can consistently protect Brown and create the running lanes the new offense is designed to exploit.
That issue becomes especially important because Auburn entered the season expecting its rushing attack to be a foundation of Golesh’s system. Brown completed 26 of 35 passes for 259 yards in his Auburn debut, but his three interceptions showed that the passing game cannot be expected to carry the offense by itself every week.
The Baylor game exposed a problem Auburn cannot ignore
Baylor’s defensive front repeatedly disrupted Auburn’s offense, recording five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. The pressure contributed to Brown’s three-interception performance and prevented the Tigers from establishing the kind of offensive rhythm they wanted.
Auburn’s defense ultimately rescued the team. Eric Winters made the decisive goal-line stop in the final seconds, while the Tigers also forced turnovers earlier in the game. That resilience was encouraging, but it also highlighted how close Auburn came to starting the new era with a disappointing defeat.
Injuries add another layer of uncertainty
There was also some concern after several Tigers experienced injury-related stoppages against Baylor. Starting guards Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand went down during Auburn’s go-ahead touchdown drive, while edge rushers Da’Shawn Womack and Jared Smith also dealt with injuries. Golesh subsequently indicated that the injuries were not expected to keep those players out for an extended period.
That is encouraging news heading into Week 2, but Auburn still needs to monitor the situation carefully. The Tigers are scheduled to face Southern Miss next, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to stabilize the roster and address the issues that emerged in Atlanta before the schedule becomes significantly more demanding.
Week 2 becomes an important response
The Southern Miss matchup is therefore about more than simply adding another win to Auburn’s record. It gives Golesh and his staff a chance to prove that the Baylor performance was an early-season wake-up call rather than a preview of recurring problems.
Auburn’s 17-16 victory demonstrated that the team has toughness and the ability to finish close games. But the coaching staff has already made clear that there is plenty to fix. Golesh said after the opener that the Tigers had “a lot to clean up,” and the offensive line has emerged as one of the clearest areas requiring immediate attention.
For Auburn fans, the concern is straightforward: can the Tigers fix their problems before they become costly? The Baylor win bought Auburn time, but the margin for error will shrink considerably once SEC play arrives.
The Week 2 game against Southern Miss could provide the first meaningful indication of whether Auburn has actually learned from its opening-night struggles or whether the Tigers still have much more work to do before they are ready for the challenges ahead.
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