Purdue and Auburn to face off in both upcoming seasons
Two of the most dominant teams in college basketball have officially agreed to a two-year series set to begin this December.
Purdue and Auburn, both expected to be ranked in the top 25 at the start of the season, will go head-to-head on December 21, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. The second game will take place on December 20, 2025 as part of the Indy Classic in Indianapolis.
Despite the potential absence of their star player Zach Edey, the Boilermakers, who were the NCAA runner-up in 2023-24, remain a formidable opponent for the Bruce Pearl-led Tigers.
In a statement, Pearl expressed his gratitude to Purdue's head coach Matt Painter for agreeing to the series, praising the program's success in recent years. He also emphasized the importance of playing against top teams in order to become the best.
Auburn has had a successful run in the past seven years, with six seasons of more than 20 wins, including a 30-10 record and a Final Four appearance in 2018-19. However, they were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year by Yale.
Painter also commented on the upcoming series, stating that they strive to have a competitive nonconference schedule and acknowledging Auburn as a top team in the SEC.
