Arnold Relishing New Opportunity with Auburn: 'I Like These Challenges'

Baylor is sure to be a contrast to Arnold’s previous season opener, a 51-3 drubbing of the Temple Owls in 2024. The Bears enter 2025 as the joint-third favorite in the Big 12, according to a 247 Sports poll done by each of its Big 12 sites, and firmly in the second tier of the conference behind Arizona State, according to ESPN. 

Baylor is coached by former Wisconsin and LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who has left his signature on the defense. The Bears are excellent at disguising their rushes and excel at confusing opposing quarterbacks, something that Arnold himself has noticed on film

“Yeah, they're a big simulated zone pressure team, and being able to study that in the field and study what parts of the field that we can attack and take advantage of it's been big for us,” Arnold said. “In our film study. We come out here in the practice field, going out and executing our calls and making sure we’re running the right routes and the right depths and get in the windows.”

Simulated pressure can cause frequent mistakes, especially for inexperienced and paranoid quarterbacks. However, if Arnold can settle down and have good pocket presence, there will be holes in the zone that the Auburn quarterback can pick apart. Add an elite Tigers receiving core that has been getting comfortable with Arnold to the mix, and Auburn should have the personnel to create an effective plan of attack.

“It's nice being able to actually see the looks that you've seen on film and see them in practice,” Arnold said. “It's nice. It's better than going to start defense and seeing all these different types of looks that Coach (DJ Durkin) throws at us. But it's good to game plan. It's good to get our plays in that we need to run against Baylor, and it makes it a whole lot more comfortable and a lot easier for us.”

Jackson's will begin his first start with Auburn on Friday at 7 p.m. CT with television coverage on Fox.

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