The Auburn and Baylor matchup originally scheduled as the back end of a home-and-home commitment has been moved to Atlanta. The Tigers sixth home game will be on the road with Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game, per an announcement on Monday.
NEW: Auburn is moving its home game vs Baylor next season to Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game, @Brett_McMurphy reports.
— On3 (@On3sports) October 6, 2025
The move is expected to earn up to $5M in NIL opportunities for Auburn student-athletes📈https://t.co/LOQLyr1HJE pic.twitter.com/M5J4jlc1IY
This will be a first for college football as NIL opportunities surrounding the game will take place for student-athletes. Players will take part in promotions for the game, which is expected to add $5 million for Auburn. The approach is similar to college basketball's with multi-team event tournaments.
"As college football adapts to the new NIL world, we have to find creative ways to make sure everyone gets a win in games like these," said Peach Bowl COO David Epps. "We worked in partnership with Auburn to create a new model for neutral-site games – one that moves the chains financially for the universities and student-athletes.
This will be a big deal for Auburn, who will receive nearly seven times the ticket allotment compared to Baylor. The Aflac Kickoff Game will sell the remaining ticket inventory, which will be over 40,000. But given the proximity of the SEC school to Atlanta, this will be an event focused around the Tigers.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Holly Rowe, Michael Irvin taken out in sideline tackle during Miami-FSU rivalry
- Nico Iamaleva does something no UCLA player has done in 30 years
- Arch Manning ranked shockingly low on ESPN's list of Power Four quarterbacks
- Deion Sanders sends four-word message to his son over trust fund