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Auburn football is getting closer to kickoff against Baylor, and the more I look at this matchup, the harder it becomes for me to see how Baylor stops Byrum Brown and this Auburn rushing attack.

Baylor had problems stopping Auburn's quarterback run game last season. Now the Bears have to deal with Brown in an offense that should actually be committed to using the quarterback as a legitimate weapon on the ground.

That could be a major problem.

Alex Golesh isn't going to have to fight himself to stay committed to the run. If Baylor gives Auburn opportunities to attack on the ground, I expect Auburn to take them.

The biggest thing I want to see is Brown making good decisions with the football. Auburn doesn't need him trying to be Superman on every snap. Run the offense, make the correct reads, protect the football and punish Baylor when the defense gives him opportunities to use his legs.

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How high should expectations be for Auburn football in 2026? At this point, eight wins feels like the line.

Anything below that would be a disappointment.

There are plenty of questions around the SEC, and Auburn has questions of its own, but the Tigers finally have an experienced quarterback with the physical tools to change games. Byrum Brown does not need to put up ridiculous numbers to make this Auburn offense significantly better. He needs to make good decisions, protect the football and make plays when Auburn absolutely has to have them.

That is what I want to see against Baylor.

I am not obsessed with Auburn winning the opener by three touchdowns. Would I love to see Auburn run Baylor out of the stadium? Absolutely. But the most important thing is seeing Brown consistently make the correct decisions and Auburn walk away with the win.

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Auburn football expectations are all over the place heading into the 2026 season, but I think some Auburn fans are setting the bar way too low.

Eight wins should not sound outrageous for this team. Nine wins should not automatically be dismissed as fan optimism either. Auburn has improved its overall talent, DJ Durkin has already shown what he can do defensively, and now the biggest question is whether Byrum Brown can finally give Auburn the quarterback play needed to win close games.

That matters because Auburn has spent too much time on the wrong side of those margins.

When a game gets tight late, sometimes the quarterback simply has to make a play. Forget everything else for a moment. Can the quarterback make the throw? Can he get the offense down the field? Can he create a touchdown when Auburn absolutely has to have one?

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Today’s show is brought to you in part by KALSHI! America’s #1 prediction market.

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Offensive Coordinator, Joel Gordon previews the Baylor game.

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Defensive Coordinator, DJ Durkin addresses the media ahead of the season opener against Baylor

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Head Coach Alex Golesh talks with the media prior the season opener against Baylor.

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Auburn football enters the Baylor matchup as a favorite, but the expectation should be bigger than simply finding a way to win. This is an opportunity for Alex Golesh and the Tigers to make an immediate statement about what Auburn football is going to look like in 2026.

Auburn fans have remained loyal through five straight losing seasons. Jordan Hare Stadium continued filling up despite the results on the field. At some point, that loyalty needs to be rewarded with winning football.

Eight wins should be a reasonable expectation for this team, and Baylor represents the first opportunity to establish that standard.

The matchup starts with Auburn’s ability to run the football.

Baylor struggled defending the run last season, while Auburn showed exactly what it could do on the ground in this matchup by rushing for more than 300 yards. Baylor has made changes defensively, but the Tigers still have the personnel to make stopping the run a major problem.

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