The Tigers and Tar Heels will meet on the gridiron for the first time in 19 years at the 2020 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the organization announced Thursday afternoon.
Auburn's return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium will one of several games in an Atlanta series of college football showdowns in 2020. Auburn will play North Carolina on Sept. 12, while West Virginia will face Florida State on Sept. 5 and Georgia will battle Virginia on Sept. 7. The league is still finalizing broadcast details and times.
"The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game has established itself as a premier season opener in college football and we look forward to being a part of it again in 2020 against a very good North Carolina program," Gus Malzahn said. "It's always great to play in Atlanta in front of a big crowd of Auburn fans."
Auburn and UNC have met six times in football with the Tar Heels holding a 4-2 edge in the series. The teams last met in the 2001 Peach Bowl, when North Carolina defeated Tommy Tuberville's Tigers 16-10.
The meeting will mark Auburn's fourth trip to the classic, with a loss to Clemson in 2012 and a victory over Louisville in 2015. The Tigers open up this season against Washington on Sept. 1 in the kickoff game.
"The notoriety and popularity of Auburn continues to rise, and we are excited to once again be a part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in 2020," added Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene. "This nationally televised game puts Auburn front and center of the college football stage. Gary Stokan and his staff do an outstanding job of putting on a first-class event and we look forward to filling Mercedes-Benz Stadium with orange and blue."
In 2019, Auburn will open its season against Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in a 2010 BCS National Championship rematch. The Tigers have scheduled non-conference Power 5 opponents through 2024 with a Penn State home-and-home series set for 2021-22 and a California home-and-home from 2023-24.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
