The Auburn Tigers will kick off the 2026 college football season on Saturday, traveling from Auburn, Alabama, to Atlanta’s Mercedes‑Benz Stadium to meet the Baylor Bears in the much‑anticipated Aflac Kickoff Game, a rematch of the 38‑24 victory the Tigers recorded in the 2025 season opener.
Broadcast and Production
ABC will air the contest live at 2:30 p.m. Central Time, with the ‘SEC on ABC’ team of play‑by‑play announcer Joe Tessitore, color analyst Greg McElroy and sideline reporter Taylor MacGregor. ESPN and ABC jointly handle the telecast, while the Auburn Sports Network will provide a local live feed from the stadium featuring Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown.
SEC Nation, the SEC Network’s pre‑game show, will broadcast live from outside the stadium at 8 a.m. CT, anchored by new host Matt Barrie and complemented by former players Tim Tebow, Roman Harper, Paul Finebaum and Chase Daniel. In addition, Paul Finebaum’s daily radio program will be produced from Atlanta on Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Central, adding a week‑long build‑up to the Saturday showdown.
The relocation from the traditional home‑field setting at Jordan‑Hare Stadium to a neutral site in Atlanta was driven by NIL incentives aimed at student‑athletes, underscoring the growing financial stakes that shape early‑season scheduling across the SEC.
Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the Tigers respond after their dominant 2025 performance, while the extensive media coverage and high‑profile commentary promise a compelling start to the new season.