Jacksonville State football to travel to Auburn in 2026 for first meeting as FBS foes

Jacksonville State football is heading to the Plains.

The Gamecocks announced on Saturday that Jax State and Auburn agreed to a game for the 2026 season at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Gamecocks announced the game will be on Sept. 26.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to return to the Plains and play Auburn in 2026," Jax State athletic director Greg Seitz said. "This will be a great experience for our football program, fans and alumni to watch the Gamecocks in Jordan-Hare Stadium."

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The game will be the first trip to either of the instate SEC powers as an FBS program. The Gamecocks last traveled to Auburn in 2015, when they fell 27-20 in overtime as an FCS program. It appears to be the first trip to an SEC program since 2016 for the Gamecocks.

It means two games for the 2026 season have been set for the Gamecocks, with them hosting Georgia Southern the week before the trip to Jordan Hare Stadium.

Jax State has ramped up scheduling, adding Southern Miss to this year and the 2025 schedule in 2022. This year, they have scheduled UAB for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Earlier this month, the Gamecocks added a series with Buffalo for the 2028 and 2031 seasons.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Jacksonville State football to travel to Auburn in 2026 for first meeting as FBS foes