Lane Kiffin weighs in on Auburn’s decision to move 2026 season-opener to Atlanta: ‘I like our home games for our fans’
OXFORD, Miss. – Lane Kiffin makes his feelings known on many a subject in the college football world, and on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, it was no different.
Coach Kiffin was asked about Auburn moving its 2026 home game against Baylor from Jordan-Hare to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In an era of college football defined by name, image, and likeness, the move comes as Auburn looks to secure additional financial compensation and opportunities for its players.
Through ticket sales and other events, On3 predicts that Auburn will generate close to $5 million for its student athletes as a result of moving the former home game to Atlanta.
NEW: Auburn is moving its home game vs Baylor next season to Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game, @Brett_McMurphy reports.
The move is expected to earn up to $5M in NIL opportunities for Auburn student-athletes📈https://t.co/LOQLyr1HJE pic.twitter.com/M5J4jlc1IY
— On3 (@On3sports) October 6, 2025
According to ESPN, Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen is confident in the decision and believes the university will find growth and benefit on a national stage.
“Any time we have the ability to advance Auburn student-athletes’ ability to earn third-party NIL compensation, we will take that opportunity.“
– Auburn AD John Cohen on playing in Atlanta
Despite the financial gain, the Tigers, who will still be deemed the home team, will receive a ticket allotment of 20,645 rather than seating approximately 90,000 in Jordan-Hare.
Lane Kiffin weighs in
In today’s SEC teleconference call, Lane Kiffin spoke on the situation, stating that he’d prefer to play at home as much as possible due to the endless support from local Mississippians and the students of Ole Miss.
“I like our home games for our fans. They get to come and it does a lot for our community and our town with all the people that come into town for the home games. So I wouldn’t want to take that away from our fans and our community. NIL dollars isn’t the answer to everything. (Auburn has) a lot of them over there, so, I prefer in that situation to keep supporting our community and our town and our university that’s been so great for us.”
– Lane Kiffin on Auburn’s decision
This weekend, the Rebels will face Washington State in their fourth straight home game of the 2025 season. As for the quarterback situation, Kiffin acknowledged that even with Heisman discussions surrounding Trindad Chambliss, this weekend’s starter is still unknown.
The game will kick off at 11:45 am Central Time on SEC Network.
