ATLANTA (May 12, 2026) – Officials today announced the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game, featuring Baylor vs. Auburn, will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and will be nationally telecast on ABC.
This year’s matchup will represent only the sixth meeting between Baylor and Auburn on the gridiron, dating back to 1954. The all-time series is currently tied 2-2-1, including a 38-24 Auburn win over the Bears in their most recent matchup last season in Waco, Texas.
“There’s no better way to kick off the 2026 season than from right here in the Capital of College Football,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. “We look forward to welcoming Baylor and Auburn fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, along with a national television audience, in what should be one of the premiere matchups of the first full weekend of college football.”
Baylor is set to make its first-ever appearance in the Aflac Kickoff Game and the program’s first visit to Atlanta in 33 years after facing Georgia Tech in 1993.
It will mark Auburn’s fourth appearance in the Aflac Kickoff Game, where the Tigers hold a 2-1 record with victories over No. 6 Washington in 2018 and Louisville in 2015, along with a loss to Clemson in 2012.
The SEC will make its 22nd appearance in the Aflac Kickoff Game, with the conference currently boasting a 19-2 record in the game, including a 1-0 mark over Big 12 teams. Baylor will become only the second Big 12 program to play in the game after West Virginia opened the 2014 season against Alabama.
Aflac and Peach Bowl, Inc. will continue their fourth year of “Kickoff for a Cause,” an initiative that has generated more than $1.2 million for the communities they serve while, reinforcing both organization’s long-standing commitment to supporting children and families facing pediatric cancer.
Auburn and Baylor will battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football’s unique rivalry-style icons. Traditionally, winners of The Old Leather Helmet don the helmet on the field after the game, starting with the head coach and then rotating from player to player as the team celebrates its victory.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets to this year’s Aflac Kickoff Game are encouraged to reach out to their school’s ticket office or email tickets@cfabowl.com for waitlist information.