A landmark NIL agreement
Auburn University’s football program has inked a groundbreaking name, image and likeness agreement that will funnel roughly $6 million into the hands of 24 Tigers as they prepare for the season‑opening showdown with Baylor.
The deal, struck in partnership with Aflac, Mercedes‑Benz and the ABC network, earmarks the funds for a series of marketing and promotional commitments that will run from July through kickoff, giving the players a unique platform to amplify the game’s visibility.
Originally slated as a home‑and‑home series, the matchup was relocated to Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta to maximize the commercial potential of the NIL arrangement, a move first reported by journalist Brandon Marcello.
Game details and broadcast
The stadium will host the game on Saturday, September 4, with a kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. Central Time, and the broadcast will be carried live on ABC, bringing the spectacle to a national audience.
Ticket allocations reflect the scale of the event: Auburn has been allotted 20,645 seats, while Baylor receives 3,000, underscoring the broader appeal of the neutral‑site opener. The Tigers hope to extend their recent dominance, having edged Baylor in Waco last season.
Beyond the financial windfall, the agreement signals a shifting landscape in college athletics, where conference partners and media outlets are increasingly intertwined with player compensation models.