Auburn’s first game under Alex Golesh provided considerably more drama than most SEC openers.
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The Tigers survived Baylor 17-16 in Atlanta after linebacker Eric Winters stopped Matthew Klopfenstein short of the goal line on a potential game-winning two-point conversion.
It was hardly a flawless performance.
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown completed 26 of 35 passes for 259 yards but threw three interceptions and was sacked five times. Baylor actually outgained Auburn 436-389 and ran 99 offensive plays compared with Auburn’s 76.
Yet Auburn repeatedly found ways to survive.
The Tigers’ defense recorded 10 tackles for loss, kept Baylor from turning its yardage advantage into enough points and produced the game’s decisive play when everything came down to one conversion attempt.
Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns but needed 54 attempts. Auburn forced him to work for nearly everything.
The offensive line is an obvious concern. Five sacks and repeated Baylor penetration made Brown’s job unnecessarily difficult. Three interceptions will also be unacceptable against SEC opponents.
But there is value in winning a close game—particularly for a team beginning a new coaching era.
Rather than cruising against an overmatched opponent, Auburn immediately experienced a fourth-quarter pressure situation against a Power Four opponent and found a way to prevail.
Golesh therefore leaves Atlanta with plenty to correct but also with something invaluable: his first Auburn victory.
The Tigers aren’t yet a finished product. The turnovers and pass protection must improve dramatically.
But Auburn showed toughness, defensive resilience and an ability to make the decisive play when the game was on the line.
Sometimes an ugly one-point victory tells a coaching staff more than a 40-point rout.
