Auburn vs. Arkansas State

Arkansas State defensive end Chris Stone (42) tackles Auburn running back Corey Grant Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

(JULIE BENNETT)

-- Auburn is making its first moves to schedule non-conference opponents following the SEC's decision to stick with an eight-game conference schedule in 2016 and beyond.

The Tigers will host Arkansas State in 2016, athletics director

Jay Jacobs

confirmed to AL.com on Wednesday. The news was first reported by

Jeff Reed

of AStateNation.com.

The trip will be the Red Wolves' fourth to the Plains. Auburn knocked off Arkansas State 38-9 in 2013 in a match-up that pitted coach Gus Malzahn against his former team from the Sun Belt.

A date for the game has not been set. Auburn is 3-0 against the Red Wolves.

Jacobs told the

Montgomery Advertiser

on Wednesday the school is close to scheduling more schools and is

.

The SEC decided this month to stick with a 6-1-1 scheduling format for conference games and will require its schools to play at least one opponent from a Power 5 conference starting in 2016.

Auburn is scheduled to travel to Kansas State in September and will face Louisville at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta in 2015.