AUBURN, Ala. – The 2026-27 athletic season for the Auburn Tigers will begin Wednesday evening, as Auburn soccer is set to host No. 25 Clemson at 6 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The Tigers will then host in-state foe Jacksonville State on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT.
“The strength of this team is their togetherness,” said Auburn head coach James Armstrong. “They are a very close-knit group, the closest group I’ve ever had. They believe in each other, they believe in what we’re doing, they love representing Auburn and they are professional in everything they do. We don’t necessarily have one game changer that we have to rely on. We have a solid core group of players that are going to stick together and fight for one another.”
The Tigers’ 2026 roster will feature a lot of new faces, with 14 new players to go along with 14 returners. Seven players joined the team via the transfer portal, and another seven will begin their true freshman campaigns on Wednesday. Among the transfers is Hannah Bell, who had a successful three-year stint at East Texas A&M, where she was named All-Southland Conference twice, Southland Conference Forward of the Year and the conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2023.
Auburn fifth-year and team captain Dylan Driver leads the returners in her final season of eligibility in 2026. Driver led the team among returners in 2025 in goals (3), assists (7) and points (13). Auburn is also returning a lot of production with senior Jordyn Crosby, who started all 18 games and played more than 1,400 minutes in 2025. Crosby was named an SEC Breakout Star to Watch by Top Drawer Soccer last season.
Wednesday’s game will serve as a rematch of the 2024 season opener at the Auburn Soccer Complex, which Auburn won 4-0. Clemson leads the all-time series over Auburn 8-2-1, while Auburn leads its all-time series against Jacksonville State 5-2-0. Auburn and Jax State last met in 2006, when the Tigers won 4-0 at home.
“Clemson is returning everybody,” Armstrong said about the Tigers. “They were a young group a couple of years ago and have been building up for this season. They’re well coached, intricate in terms of their rotations and movements, and solid defensively. It’ll be a great first test for us and one that we’re excited about.”
In its first season under Armstrong, the Tigers posted a 5-6-7 overall record and a 1-3-6 record in conference games. Auburn reached the SEC Tournament for the 30th time in program history in 2025.
Last season, Clemson posted an 8-5-6 overall record and a 4-4-2 record in ACC play. The Tigers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Vanderbilt 3-2 in double overtime. Jax State went 6-9-3 overall in 2025.
Admission to the match at the Auburn Soccer Complex is free, and fans in attendance will receive a free drum bucket while supplies last. Beginning this season, personal coolers are permitted at the Auburn Soccer Complex, but only people 21 and older may consume alcohol. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+, while radio coverage will be available terrestrially on WEGL 91.1 and via streaming at AuburnTigers.com. Live stats will also be available at AuburnTigers.com.