Auburn football analyst shares humorous message on why Mizzou game will be key 2025 matchup
In the ever-changing landscape of college football, the importance of specific games on a team’s schedule can often be unpredictable, depending on how the season unfolds. Traditionally, rivalry games are the most significant to fanbases, but it’s not uncommon for matchups earlier in the season to lose their relevance as the campaign progresses. For example, Notre Dame’s Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois in the 2024 season, despite lingering in the sport’s narrative, had little effect on the Fighting Irish’s ultimate path to the College Football Playoff. This serves as a reminder that the true weight of a game isn’t always determined by its initial appearance on the calendar.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, one game that has garnered attention is Auburn’s October 18 contest against Missouri. While Auburn football is focused on its transfer quarterback, Jackson Arnold, and his performance throughout the season, this particular game is already seen as a key matchup, even though it may not seem as significant at first glance. The 2025 season is particularly crucial for Auburn, as it marks an “all-in” year for the team and its coaching staff, especially under head coach Hugh Freeze, and the outcome of this game could have far-reaching consequences for the direction of the program.
To provide some context, Auburn football analyst Terrance Biggs recently explored the most critical games for Arnold, who is considered Auburn’s main hope for success in 2025. While Oklahoma is undoubtedly one of the most important games on the schedule for Arnold, Biggs highlighted the Missouri game as a potential turning point. This follows the 2024 season, when Missouri handed Oklahoma a 30-23 loss, leaving Arnold with a particularly sour memory. In that game, Arnold struggled mightily, accumulating only 74 passing yards and committing multiple turnovers. It was a forgettable performance in a game where neither team seemed to have their best showing, which led Biggs to describe it with an imagery akin to an 80s slasher film—particularly referencing iconic horror characters like Jason Voorhees. In this analogy, the game was gruesome enough to make even a fictional killer retreat in fear. Despite the lackluster performance, Arnold did manage to catch an 18-yard touchdown pass during the game, though the turnover-filled disaster overshadowed that small victory.
This 2024 game between Oklahoma and Missouri was a hard-fought battle, but it became memorable for the wrong reasons. Now, Arnold has an opportunity for redemption when Auburn faces Missouri in 2025, this time in the more familiar environment of Jordan-Hare Stadium. Given the stakes for Arnold’s performance and Auburn’s season as a whole, the Missouri matchup could be a pivotal moment for both the quarterback and the team.
For Auburn fans and analysts alike, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a make-or-break year. Arnold, as one of the key transfers brought in to lead the team, is under intense pressure to deliver. His performance against Missouri could determine whether the Tigers are living up to expectations or still searching for answers. Much of the team’s future rests on his shoulders, and with Hugh Freeze at the helm, the spotlight is squarely on Auburn’s ability to make a strong statement in 2025.
Arnold’s potential is clear, but potential alone isn’t enough to secure victories, especially when the team is working with a relatively untested group of players. As the season progresses, it will become evident whether Auburn’s early-season hype, such as their No. 10 ranking from On3, is warranted or whether the team is still undergoing the growing pains typical of a program in transition. For Auburn, the Missouri game could serve as an early litmus test of their readiness for the challenges of the 2025 season. If they falter and fail to live up to the hype, it could spell trouble for both Arnold and Freeze, whose futures may come into question.
The upcoming season is being dubbed an “all-in” year for Auburn, meaning anything less than a solid performance—six or seven losses—could be disastrous. Auburn’s program is at a crossroads, and a poor showing against Missouri, coupled with an underwhelming campaign, could signal serious issues that would need to be addressed in the offseason. On the other hand, if Arnold can lead Auburn to a strong victory against Missouri, it could set the tone for the rest of the season, allowing the Tigers to build momentum and fulfill the high expectations surrounding them.
Ultimately, the Missouri game will play a significant role in determining Auburn’s trajectory in 2025. While some games early in the season may fade in importance, this particular matchup could prove to be a defining moment. Whether Auburn emerges victorious or stumbles in a critical moment, it will be a telling indicator of how the team is shaping up under Freeze’s leadership and Arnold’s guidance. For Auburn fans, the stakes have never been higher, and all eyes will be on this game as a potential marker of success or failure.
