DJ Lagway's ankle nearly wins it for Baylor, Auburn survives 17-16

DJ Lagway left Florida after an underwhelming 2025 season chasing exactly this kind of moment — a chance to be the guy, on his own terms, with a coaching staff he picked. He got the moment on Saturday in Auburn's building, minus the ankle he needed to actually finish it. Baylor lost 17-16 anyway, but not because their new quarterback didn't leave everything on the field.

Lagway went down with a right ankle injury in the first half and had to be helped off by two teammates, limping the whole way to the tunnel. Dave Aranda told reporters afterward it was a sprain, "as far as I know," and that Lagway was fighting through it.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

DJ Lagway limps off the field with the help of two teammates, heading into halftime. Dealing with an ankle injury. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda says he is "fighting through it." t.co/F6J6HR2BQj

He came back out for the second half anyway, ankle wrapped up and clearly compromised, with Baylor down 10-7. What followed was some of the most up-and-down football you'll see from a guy operating on one working leg — gorgeous back-shoulder throws mixed with a fumble, a bad interception, and a mishandled snap for a big loss. Chris Vannini, watching from press row, summed it up as well as anyone could.

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini

Lagway delivers a perfect throw to the sideline. Then throws a bad INT on the next play. In conclusion, a land of contrasts.

By the end, the box score matched the chaos: Lagway finished 27-of-54 for 333 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, with 154 of those yards going to Gavin Freeman. Freeman caught the touchdown that mattered most, too — a 5-yard score with 9 seconds left that capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive and pulled Baylor within a point. Aranda didn't blink and sent the offense out to win it outright.

Lagway found tight end Matthew Klopfenstein at the goal line on the 2-point try, but Auburn safety Eric Winters got there first and stopped him inches short. Game over, Auburn survives.

Brett McMurphy

@Brett_McMurphy

Baylor fails on 2-point conversion w/9 seconds left. Auburn survives 17-16

It's the kind of finish that will get replayed as a gutsy failure on Baylor's side and a program-defining escape on Auburn's. New Tigers head coach Alex Golesh got his first win, admitting afterward it "certainly wasn't pretty in a lot of ways, but finding a way to win is the first step." Ross Dellenger's read on the whole thing was about as clean a summary as you'll find of a game that had two turnovers, a comeback and a coach who refused to play for overtime.

Ross Dellenger

@RossDellenger

Bum ankle and all, DJ Lagway overcomes two early turnovers to help lead Baylor on a TD drive in the final seconds vs. Auburn - and then Dave Aranda chooses to go for the win with a 2-point attempt. The catch at the goal line comes up just short and Auburn will win. Great game.

Baylor walks away 0-1 with real questions about how much longer Lagway can keep operating on that ankle, and how the offense holds up if he can't push off it. Auburn walks away 1-0 in the ugliest possible way, which under a new coaching staff is still a way to start. Neither team is going to forget this one by Week 2.