Baylor University is set to launch its football season with a matchup against Auburn at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This game is particularly significant for seventh-year head coach Dave Aranda, as the Bears have struggled with three losing seasons in the past four years following their Big 12 championship in 2021.
This season, Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway will take over the starting position, replacing Sawyer Robertson. Lagway, whose father played at Baylor from 1997 to 2001, will lead a restructured receiving corps aiming for improved performance. On defense, first-year coordinator Joe Klanderman faces the challenge of revitalizing a unit that ranked among the lowest in the Big 12 last season.
Baylor will contend with Auburn's quarterback Byrum Brown, who transferred from the University of South Florida and has impressive stats, including nearly 7,700 passing yards and 61 touchdowns. The game, starting at 3:30 p.m.
ET and broadcast on ABC, is part of a larger lineup in the Big 12 Conference, which also features Oklahoma State visiting Tulsa and Boston College facing Cincinnati on the same day. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for Aranda's future with the program as he seeks to turn around the Bears' fortunes.
