Nov. 3, 2016
Auburn, Ala. - The Auburn football team will face Pac-12 opponent Washington in the 2018 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the Chick-fil-A Bowl announced Thursday. The game is set for Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 and will be played in the new, $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium – currently under construction in Atlanta. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity to play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game for a third time,” Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn said. “Auburn has a great fan base in Atlanta and we’ve always had a big number of Georgia kids in our program. We appreciate the partnership we’ve had over the years with the great people at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.”
The 11th installment of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will be Auburn’s third appearance in the game and the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Tigers played in the 2012 game and most recently in 2015 season opener when they defeated Louisville, 31-24. “We’re excited about the chance to play in what will be a world-class venue and great atmosphere for the 2018 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game,” Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said. “Our student-athletes love big games on big stages, and playing a quality opponent like Washington in this new stadium at such a prestigious event will be a great experience. Since our goal every year is to get to Atlanta and compete for a championship, I also like the opportunity for our team to play there early in the season. That’s an advantage for us. Atlanta is a great city, and the Auburn Family has a huge presence there. So it’s a great game, venue and location for our student-athletes and our fans.” The game will be nationally telecast by ESPN. Kick time is yet to be announced. All tickets will be sold through the university ticket offices. “With two teams of this caliber, it really is going to be a major bowl game-type atmosphere and an epic celebration of college football,” said Percy Vaughn, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl chairman.
The game will mark the first-ever meeting in football between the two schools. “We are thrilled to welcome Washington and the Pac-12 to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, as well as the opportunity to host Auburn for a third time,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. president and CEO. “As two of the top 20-winningest programs of all time, these teams represent the best in college football. It’s going to be a memorable start to the season and there is no better place to host this than in Atlanta, the capital of college football.” The teams will battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football’s iconic rivalry-game trophies. 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.