A Narrow Defeat in Atlanta
Baylor Bears head coach and players left Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 0-1 record after falling 17-16 to the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The game was decided in the final seconds of the fourth quarter when Baylor failed to convert on a two-point try, leaving them one point short of victory in front of a crowd of 55,068.
The result marked the first loss of the season for the Bears, while Auburn improved to 1-0 in their home contest.
Scoring Sequence
The scoring began in the first quarter when Auburn’s Alex McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, Auburn extended their advantage on a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Jeremiah Cobb, followed by an extra point.
Baylor responded late in the half with a 14-yard pass from DJ Lagway to Louis Brown IV, cutting the deficit to 10-7. The third quarter was scoreless, preserving the 10-7 Auburn lead into the final period.
The fourth quarter saw a flurry of activity. Rhett Armstrong kicked a 22-yard field goal for Baylor to tie the game at 10-10. Auburn then drove into field goal range, and McPherson connected on a 22-yard attempt to restore the 17-10 lead.
