Auburn and UNC Finalizing Deal to Play in 2020

According to Brandon Marcello of Auburn Undercover, Auburn and North Carolina are close to finalizing a deal to play a neutral-site game in 2020. The game would be part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, and would be played during the second week of the season in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

If finalized, Auburn will have scheduled a Power 5 non-conference team for each season until 2024. North Carolina would be added to a list of opponents that include Washington, Oregon, Penn State and Cal.

The last time the Tigers played the Tar Heels, Auburn lost 16-10 in the 2001 Peach Bowl.

Adding North Carolina would be welcome news for Auburn fans, as it would further diversify the Tigers’ future out-of-conference schedule after years of stale matchups featuring Clemson — a team that Auburn has played a total of six times in the last ten years. The bad news, however, is that the long-awaited game between Auburn and Notre Dame that was previously discussed before the season will need to be put on hold for at least eight years now. 

Since the game would occur during week 2 of the season, Auburn would most likely need to move its November 21st opponent, Alabama A&M, to the first week of the season.

On an interesting note, the Tigers currently have UMass scheduled for the November 14th date in 2020 — a weekend typically held aside for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Does that mean the Auburn-Georgia game will eventually be moved to an earlier part of the season? If so, that would heavily benefit Auburn during even years, as the Tigers would avoid that three week stretch that includes road games at Georgia and Alabama. 

Auburn’s Future Out-Of-Conference Schedules:

2018

Sept. 1: Washington (Atlanta)

Sept. 8: Alabama State

Sept. 29: Southern Miss

Nov. 17: Liberty

2019

Aug. 31: Oregon (Arlington, TX)

Sept. 7: Tulane

Nov. 23: Samford

2020

Sept. 12: North Carolina (Atlanta) *not yet finalized*

Sept. 26: Southern Miss

Nov. 14: UMass

Nov. 21: Alabama A&M *possible date change to week 1*

2021

Sept. 18: @ Penn State

Sept. 25: Georgia State

Nov. 20: Alabama State

2022

Sept. 17: Penn State

Sept. 24: Western Kentucky

Nov. 19: Mercer

2023

Sept. 9: @ Cal

2024

Sept. 7: Cal

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