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Paul Finebaum Names College Football Program Whose Week 1 Performance Wasn't an 'Aberration'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 8:30 PM ET

The Auburn Tigers snapped their four-year opening-week drought in style, pounding Baylor 38-24 on the road. The dominant rushing attack caught the attention of ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.

The Tigers secured a victory in the game, winning 38-24. They demonstrated a powerful run game, accumulating a total of 307 rushing yards and scoring four touchdowns as a team. Their average was an impressive 5.9 yards per carry. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," a caller questioned whether Auburn's performance was just a fluke. However, the host expressed confidence that it wasn’t.

"I don't think that's an aberration," Finebaum said. "To me, they looked really good. They completely overpowered what I was told was a good football team. Now, we'll know in about three weeks when they get to Oklahoma."

Auburn’s Ground Game Powers Breakthrough Victory

A bright spot in the game was transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold. The former five-star recruit struggled last season as Oklahoma's starter, which led to his transfer. He completed 11-of-17 passes for 108 yards and also contributed on the ground, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns. One notable play was a 27-yard run on fourth-and-one with 4:32 left in the game, which gave Auburn a two-touchdown lead.

It wasn't just Arnold who succeeded in the run game. Running backs Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb each had 16 carries. Alston rushed for 84 yards, while Cobb gained 74 yards, and both scored a touchdown.

Defense Makes Its Presence Felt

The defense excelled at controlling the line of scrimmage as well. Auburn allowed only 64 rushing yards, averaging 2.7 yards per carry during the game. Bryson Washington, who ran for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, was held to just 54 yards and an average of 3.9 yards per carry on Friday. On the other hand, Sawyer Robertson performed well in the passing game, completing 27-of-48 attempts for 419 yards and three touchdowns.

The Oklahoma matchup on Sept. 20 looms as the first real measuring stick. If Auburn’s dominance in the trenches carries over to Norman, the Tigers could quickly shift from an SEC dark horse into a legitimate playoff contender. For now, Finebaum is buying into what he saw, and Auburn fans have reason to believe this year may finally look different.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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