In the year since the Auburn Tigers last took on the Baylor Bears to open up the college football season, a lot has changed for both programs, whether it be with the coaching staffs, players or something else to do with the team.
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In essence, the preparation for this game has been like getting to know a brand-new opponent, or like a team that someone is playing for the first time ever.
Auburn Head Coach Alex Golesh understands that, especially when he looks at Baylor’s defense. He knows the unknown areas present can cause a challenge, and the team has been watching as much film as possible in order to prepare for it.
“A lot of new,” Golesh said. “New defensive coordinator coming over from Kansas State, three new coaches on that side of the ball, Coach Aranda obviously involved defensively. You’re preparing for a lot of different things, you’re watching a lot of different film and trying to get a really good feel and you’re kind of prepared for the unknown, and that’s always week 1, but certainly when you get a new staff.”
The biggest move from the offseason that was made in terms of the Bears defense was the hiring of Joe Klanderman in December 2025, who came over from being with Kansas State and brought some guys with him.
As a result, there will be a little bit of a Wildcats touch in what Baylor presents.
“I think (they’ll be) aggressive,” Golesh said. “There's been so much made of this defensive front being really, really good. And you watch the Baylor defensive front, you watch the Kansas State defensive front. It's like a mix, and then they added some pieces.”
The biggest transfer piece though might not even be one of Klanderman’s former players in Manhattan.
The Bears brought in Hosea Wheeler from Indiana to play on the interior, and at 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, the senior is sure to be a presence on the field.
“I think the nose from Indiana is a really special player,” Golesh said. “Can certainly eat up double teams inside and do some really good things in the pass rush world. I think it'll be huge in how we move.”
Wheeler is not the only potential star that Baylor presents on the whole defense though, as guys like Devon Jordan and Levar Thornton Jr., the two starting cornerbacks, have been observed to be solid all throughout preseason camp in Waco.
No matter who or what the Bears throw on the field on Saturday, Golesh said that the matter of fact is that they have to handle business.
Baylor’s defense finished 15th out of 16 in the Big 12 in 2025 in average points allowed and rushing yards, while finishing 12th in average total yards.
With the revamp of the defensive unit, there will be a new look. No matter what though, Golesh said his offense will stick to its roots.
“Dave Aranda is one of the best in the country at what he does,” Golesh said. “That'll be key to winning number one for us offensively, is handle what they do. Let us adjust to whatever we feel like we're getting. But ultimately, our identity is what it is… We're gonna take what they give us, and we're gonna play really fast.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
