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Auburn defeats Baylor 17-16 in season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 12:49 AM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Auburn defeats Baylor 17-16 in season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Summary

Auburn opened the Alex Golesh era with a 17-16 win over the Baylor Bears on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Tigers relied on a defensive performance that limited the Bears to 7-of-22 on third-down conversions and restricted them to three red zone trips throughout the game. Sophomores Elijah Melendez and Eric Winters led the Auburn defense in tackles, with Melendez recording 12 total. Jared Smith also contributed by logging an interception off Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway in the first quarter. This victory marks the first win for Auburn under head coach Alex Golesh. The team plans to continue its season coverage through official social media channels.

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By the Numbers

•Auburn defeated Baylor 17-16 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
•Elijah Melendez led the Tigers with 12 tackles during the win.
•Jared Smith recorded the team's lone interception against DJ Lagway.
•The Auburn defense limited Baylor to three red zone opportunities.
•Eric Winters was voted as the team's top performer by fans.

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12:49 AMYahoo Sports — Tigers of the Game: Defense wins leather helmets

What they're saying

"
Auburn football earned win No. 1 of the Alex Golesh era on Saturday thanks to several clutch, reliable plays from the Tigers' defense.
— Yahoo Sports

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