Auburn's Roster Overhaul Could Give Tigers Major Edge Against Baylor
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Auburn might be walking into a pretty favorable situation against Baylor in Week 1.
And although most sportsbooks are giving Auburn a 7.5-point favorite entering the game at Atlanta, I'm referring to something else.
In this new world of college athletics, retention and replacement are two important factors, each in every single year. A lot has changed since both these two teams played each other in Week 1 last season. Both programs have lost important players, but the bigger question isn't necessarily who lost more; it's how well you replace them. The Auburn Tigers might have done a better job than Baylor in that regard across the board.
Baylor lost Sawyer Robertson after he threw for more than 3,600 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. He also threw for more than 400 yards against Auburn.
Now DJ Lagway takes over. There's obviously plenty of talent there, and I believe he'll have a much better end to his collegiate career compared to his success with Florida. He certainly wasn't a fit with former head coach Billy Napier, but he's still replacing a quarterback who was incredibly productive in this offense.
Then there's Bryson Washington.
The former Bears running back is now on the other side of this football game. He's playing for Auburn, and last season he led Baylor in rushing. Baylor also has to replace most of its top receiving production and enters the season with only one returning starter along the offensive line.
And yes, Auburn lost plenty too. Jackson Arnold transfers off the UNLV, and Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton leave via the transfer portal to test their talents elsewhere, but Auburn replaced those players with Byrum Brown and wide receivers Alex Golesh already knows can run his fast-paced offense.
The Tigers completely rebuilt the receiver room around players like Chas Nimrod, Keshawn Singleton and Jeremiah Koger while adding Washington to a backfield that already had Jeremiah Cobb.
And Auburn believes its offensive line has improved.
That's where this matchup starts getting really interesting.
"I think what Baylor is fielding is a worse team than a year ago," Zac Blackerby said on a recent episode of Locked on Auburn. "And I do think Auburn will be better than they were a year ago."
That's ultimately the argument.
Auburn beat Baylor by two scores last season despite Robertson throwing for more than 400 yards.
Now Robertson is gone.
Washington switched sides.
Baylor is replacing four starters along the offensive line while Auburn enters Week 1 believing it has improved in the trenches.
Auburn still has a new coaching staff. Brown still has to prove his success at South Florida translates to the SEC. And there are plenty of new pieces throughout this roster that haven't played a meaningful snap together.
But Baylor has many of those same questions. If not more, and there's a growing narrative of head coach Dave Aranda possibly being on the hot seat.
Sure, every program has to reload. In this new world of the transfer portal, rev share, and eligibility questions, the difference is that Auburn appears to have answered more of them with proven pieces.
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