The Auburn Tigers will welcome in-state foe Jacksonville State to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2026 for a quality nonconference matchup, and the Gamecocks will receive a massive payday in exchange for the game.
Thomas Ashworth of AL.com shared Sunday that Jax State will receive $1.5 million from Auburn to play at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2026. It will be the second large payday that the Gamecocks will receive in two years, as they are also set to receive $1 million this season to play their season opener at UCF.
The matchup was announced last summer by Jax State, with the date being set for Sept. 26, 2026. Jax State Vice President for Athletics Greg Seitz says that he is excited for the program and for Gamecock fans to experience a game of this magnitude at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to return to the Plains and play Auburn in 2026,” Seitz said in a press release. “This will be a great experience for our football program, fans, and alumni to watch the Gamecocks in Jordan-Hare Stadium.”
The 2026 game between the Tigers and Gamecocks will be the second all-time meeting between the two in-state programs, and the first since 2015. Auburn defeated Jax State, 27-20, in that game, but needed to survive a scare to secure the win. The Gamecocks led 10-6 at halftime and led 20-13 in the 4th quarter before Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson connected with wide receiver Melvin Ray with 0:39 remaining to tie the game at 20-20 to force overtime. Tiger running back Peyton Barber recorded the lone score of overtime by rushing four yards to the end zone, solidifying Auburn’s victory.
Auburn has three nonconference games scheduled for the 2026 season. The Tigers will host Baylor on Sept. 5 in a return game of a two-game series, followed by Southern Miss on Sept. 12 and the Jax State Gamecocks on Sept. 26. There is no word if the SEC will move to a nine-game format for next season. If the conference maintains its eight-game schedule, the Tigers will need to add one more non-conference opponent, which will most likely be at the FCS level.
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