AUBURN, Ala. – The defending national champion Auburn equestrian team takes on another competitive schedule in 2018-19, head coach Greg Williams announced Friday.
"We are looking forward to kicking off the new season," Williams said. "In addition to the usual gauntlet through the SEC, we will be heading to the West Coast in California to play two schools. We are hoping the Auburn fans are out in full force this year to cheer on the Tigers for a National Championship repeat."
Following the annual Orange & Blue Scrimmage (Sept. 14), Auburn kicks off the regular season just as it did last year with a road meet at UT-Martin, Sept. 20.
The squad returns to the Plains for four-straight home contests, starting with the first Southeastern Conference meet of the season against South Carolina (Sept. 28). The Tigers and the Gamecocks will go head-to-head at 3 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
After an exhibition with Ole Miss (Oct. 12), Auburn takes on a pair of tough competitors in Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. The Tigers and the defending Big 12 Conference champion Cowgirls are slated to compete at 3 p.m., Oct. 19. Auburn then takes on SEC rival Aggies at 3 p.m., Nov. 2.
The final fall contest has Auburn traveling to Bishop, Ga., for a big showdown with Georgia. The Bulldogs, the 2018 SEC Champion, fell to the Tigers in the NCEA National Championship last season. The rivals face off for the first time in 2018-19, Nov. 9.
The 2019 portion kicks off with a two-day road weekend in Fresno, Calif. Auburn faces Fresno State and Delaware State, Feb. 1-2.
Auburn will follow with its own tri-meet at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, Feb. 8-9. South Dakota State and UT-Martin face off at 10 a.m. on the opening day before the Tigers and Skyhawks follow with a 3 p.m. contest. AU and SDSU cap the weekend with an 11 a.m. meet, Feb. 9.
Three-straight contests on the road have Auburn facing South Carolina, Texas A&M, and SMU. The Tigers and the Gamecocks go head-to-head in Blythewood, Feb. 16. After a week off from competition, Auburn heads to the state of Texas for a pair of meets with the Aggies (March 1) and the Mustangs (March 2).
The regular season finale and Senior Day will be held March 8 with the Tigers once again taking on rival Georgia at 3 p.m. CT.
The 2019 SEC Championship is set for March 29-30 in College Station, Texas, and will be hosted by Texas A&M. The 2019 NCEA Championship will be held once against at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas, April 17-20.