Paul Finebaum claims. Auburn’s hardest 2025 test will be against a Big 12 opponent.

Paul Finebaum, the longtime voice of college football in the South and one of the most recognizable commentators in the sport, never shies away from a bold opinion. Known for his deep ties to the SEC and his close attention to the pulse of fan bases across the conference, Finebaum has made a career out of identifying storylines and stirring conversation around the most passionate corners of college football. So, when he recently claimed that Auburn’s toughest test in the 2025 season wouldn’t come from within the SEC but rather from a Big 12 opponent, it didn’t take long for fans and analysts alike to take notice. The statement raised eyebrows, sparked debate, and highlighted the evolving landscape of college football—one where traditional power dynamics are being reshaped and long-held assumptions about conference superiority are being questioned.

Auburn, as one of the marquee programs in the Southeastern Conference, faces no shortage of challenges on an annual basis. The Tigers are locked into a gauntlet that includes regular matchups against the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M, not to mention an ever-improving set of SEC newcomers such as Texas and Oklahoma. The SEC is a meat grinder by nature, and surviving its schedule requires both elite talent and relentless consistency. So when Finebaum pointed to a Big 12 team—rather than an SEC juggernaut—as Auburn’s biggest obstacle in 2025, it felt like a deviation from the norm. His exact words carried weight, not just because of his reputation, but because they challenged a narrative that has become ingrained in college football culture: that the SEC, by default, offers the toughest opposition.

Though Finebaum didn’t specify the Big 12 opponent in his initial comment, the implications are clear. The Big 12, long considered the younger sibling to the SEC in terms of national prestige, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. With the departure of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and the addition of schools like BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston, the conference has reshaped its identity. More recently, powerhouse programs like Utah and Colorado have joined the mix, giving the Big 12 a refreshed profile and a deeper competitive field. The conference is no longer just about offense-heavy shootouts and suspect defenses. It’s become a proving ground for disciplined, well-coached teams that are eager to show they belong on the national stage.

Auburn’s scheduled non-conference opponent from the Big 12 in 2025 is none other than Baylor, a program that, in recent seasons, has built a reputation for toughness, physicality, and defensive grit. Under head coach Dave Aranda, Baylor has emphasized fundamentals, discipline, and situational football—qualities that mirror the identity Auburn traditionally prides itself on. That matchup, particularly because it comes early in the season, presents an immediate litmus test for Auburn’s readiness and growth under its current coaching regime. Finebaum, always attuned to nuance, likely sees this game not as just another early-season tune-up, but as a pivotal moment that could set the tone for Auburn’s entire year.

For Auburn, the 2025 season will represent a critical juncture. With several years of roster building and recruiting efforts beginning to take root, expectations will be higher than ever. The SEC schedule remains unforgiving, but a team hoping to make noise nationally can’t afford to stumble out of the gate. That’s what makes the Baylor game so significant. It’s not just about avoiding an upset—it’s about making a statement. Beating a quality opponent from another power conference shows that the Tigers are serious contenders, not just within the SEC, but on the national stage. Losing that game, on the other hand, could cast a shadow over the rest of the campaign and amplify doubts about the team’s ability to compete at the highest level.

Finebaum’s statement also taps into a broader truth about the modern college football landscape. Conference boundaries matter less than they once did. With the College Football Playoff expanding and realignment changing the map of the sport, matchups across conferences are becoming more meaningful. Strength of schedule is evaluated differently now, and a win over a top-tier Big 12 team can carry just as much weight as an SEC divisional victory. In that context, Baylor—or whichever Big 12 team Finebaum had in mind—becomes more than just a non-conference opponent. It becomes a barometer of where Auburn stands in the broader ecosystem of college football.

Historically, Auburn has had mixed success in high-profile non-conference matchups. They’ve taken on teams from the Pac-12, the ACC, and the Big Ten with varying results. These games are always spotlight events, often played in primetime and broadcast nationally. They test not only the players’ skills but also the coaching staff’s preparation and adaptability. Finebaum knows this, and his remark may have been less about disrespecting Auburn’s SEC slate and more about emphasizing how critical it will be for Auburn to be sharp and focused from the very first snap of the season.

Baylor, while not a perennial powerhouse in the mold of Alabama or Georgia, has quietly built a program capable of challenging anyone on a given Saturday. Their defensive schemes under Aranda are complex and difficult to decipher, particularly for a quarterback in the early stages of a new system or young offensive line units still finding cohesion. That alone can be enough to turn a projected win into a dangerous challenge. Baylor has also recruited well in recent years, pulling in players that fit their system and culture. They may not flash the same star rankings as top SEC programs, but they play a brand of football that is tough, fundamentally sound, and opportunistic.

For Auburn, preparing for a game like this requires more than talent. It demands maturity, focus, and execution. Finebaum’s take, then, isn’t necessarily a prediction of defeat or even an indictment of Auburn’s readiness—it’s a call to attention. It’s a reminder that in today’s college football, complacency is punished, and underestimating a team based on conference affiliation is a dangerous mistake. The name on the jersey doesn’t win games—execution does. And if Auburn is going to rise back into the national spotlight, games like this one against Baylor—or whichever Big 12 opponent ends up being the challenge—are the ones they must win.

The reaction to Finebaum’s comment has been predictably mixed. Some Auburn fans bristled at the idea that a Big 12 team could represent their toughest test, especially when their schedule includes trips to places like Baton Rouge and games against Alabama and Georgia. Others appreciated the insight, acknowledging that non-conference games often come with unique pressures and that underestimating them has been the downfall of many a team with championship aspirations. College football, after all, is often defined not just by the games we expect to matter, but by the ones that sneak up and change the course of a season.

Finebaum’s voice matters in college football not because he always says what fans want to hear, but because he says what he believes to be true, often ahead of the curve. His statement about Auburn and their Big 12 test isn’t just about one game—it’s about how the sport is changing, how conference lines are blurring, and how programs must prepare for every challenge, no matter the logo on the opposing helmet. Auburn, with all its history, resources, and ambition, will be expected to rise to that challenge. And if they do, this conversation will be just another footnote in a successful season. But if they don’t, Finebaum’s words will echo louder than ever.

As 2025 approaches, Auburn’s focus will naturally fall on the SEC heavyweights that await. But somewhere in the preparation, in the film rooms and weight rooms and preseason meetings, that Big 12 opponent looms as the kind of early challenge that could define the trajectory of the season. Whether it’s Baylor or another formidable team from that conference, the message is clear: underestimate them at your own risk. Finebaum has lit the match on what is sure to be one of the most talked-about non-conference games of the year. Now it’s up to Auburn to prove that the toughest test still comes from within the SEC—or that Finebaum was right all along.