Akron’s commitment to feature a loaded non-conference football schedule continues as the Zips have agreed to travel to Auburn looking ahead to the 2021 college football season.

Both programs issued a joint release on Thursday announcing the news. The game will be played Sept. 4, 2021, at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the season opener for both programs. The two programs have only met once on the football field. That game took place in 1988, with the Tigers coming away with a 42-0 win at home.

“What a great opportunity for our young men to travel to Auburn,” Arkon coach Tom Arth said in a statement. “Auburn is one of the premiere teams in the SEC. We look forward to the challenge.”

Scheduling tough non-conference opponents is nothing new to Akron as the program is now on the books to play at Clemson in 2020, at Ohio State in 2021 and to host Nebraska in 2025.

Auburn’s 2021 non-conference slate is now filled as the Tigers are set to host Georgia State (Sept. 25) and Alabama State (Nov. 20) in addition to traveling to Penn State (Sept. 18).