5 Things We Need to Learn About Auburn in Alex Golesh's Debut

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Auburn Tigers have spent an entire offseason trying to answer questions.

Now we finally get some actual answers.

Alex Golesh will make his Auburn debut against Baylor on Saturday, and the Tigers enter Week 1 with plenty of reasons for optimism.

But there are still questions.

Here are the five big ones that are on my mind today as we head into the first game week of the season. 

1. Is Auburn actually as prepared as it sounds?

This might be the biggest difference between this season opener and recent ones.

Golesh has spent months emphasizing details, situational football, and maturity. Auburn went through an entire mock game week preparing players for exactly what Saturday should look like.

The Tigers also have an advantage most first-year coaching staffs don't.

Byrum Brown, Chas Nimrod, Cole Best, Cole Skinner, and others already know Golesh's system from South Florida.

I really like what Lindsay Crosby had to say Monday morning on Locked On Auburn about this very same topic. "I think Auburn has an advantage over a lot of the teams with new coaches that you saw because they brought in so many, especially on offense, they brought in so many guys that already know the system."

This is definitely something that shouldn't be overlooked.  Auburn shouldn't look like a team learning everything for the first time. This isn't a normal rebuild, but now, it has to prove it.

2. Can Baylor actually stop Auburn from running the football?

We already know what happened last season.

Auburn rushed for more than 300 yards against Baylor and won by two touchdowns despite Sawyer Robertson throwing for more than 400 yards.

Now Golesh brings an offense that wants to run the football even more.

Last season, Baylor was 0-7 when they allowed 165 or more rushing yards in a game; Alex Golesh averaged 212 yards per game at South Florida in 2025. Signs are looking positive in that direction. 

Jeremiah Cobb gets his opportunity to become Auburn's featured back. Omar Mabson has generated plenty of offseason praise. Bryson Washington is now on Auburn's sideline after leading Baylor in rushing last season.

And Brown rushed for more than 1,000 yards at South Florida last season.

Baylor has to stop that first.

3. Can Byrum Brown punish Baylor if it loads the box?

This is where things could get interesting.

Baylor might have to bring another defender into the box and force Brown to beat man coverage.

That's probably the correct strategy. If the run game is what crushed Baylor in 2025, why wouldn't you want to eliminate that if you can.

But Auburn believes Brown has improved as a passer. Nimrod specifically mentioned Brown fitting passes into tight windows and throwing with more confidence throughout camp.

If Baylor has to commit extra defenders to stopping Auburn's rushing attack, Brown should get favorable opportunities outside, especially with a deep receiver room where multiple guys are looking to break out.

This might become the most important question this weekend.

4. Can Auburn get to DJ Lagway without blitzing?

Baylor's offensive line might be its biggest concern.

The Bears enter the season with only one returning starter up front, while Auburn spent fall camp watching Jared Smith emerge as potentially its biggest defensive breakout.

Lagway has tremendous physical talent, but decision-making has been a question throughout his career. He led the SEC with 14 interceptions last season.

If Auburn can create pressure without sacrificing bodies in coverage, Durkin can make his afternoon incredibly difficult, and it will give a solid floor expectation on what this pass rush could look like for the Tigers. 

It must be drastically improved from last season. It certainly is one of my biggest concerns this offseason, so getting that answered (sort of) in the first week would be great. 

5. Is Auburn's offensive line actually fixed?

Like pass rush, this is probably the question Auburn fans want answered most. But Baylor might not completely answer it.

Auburn believes the room has improved. Stanton Ramil is healthy. Cole Best and Cole Skinner have brought experience and communication from South Florida. Jacob Strand has pushed for a role, and Auburn has spent camp trying to establish seven or eight offensive linemen it trusts.

Baylor struggled against the run last season and probably isn't the defensive front that determines whether Auburn's offensive line is ready for SEC play.

Florida, Vanderbilt and Tennessee will provide much more significant tests.

For now, Auburn just needs to do what it did against Baylor last season.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos