AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn is headed back to Atlanta.

The Tigers will open the 2018 season against Washington in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, it was announced Thursday morning. The game fills the need for a Power 5 opponent on Auburn’s schedule in 2018.

The game will mark the third trip in seven years for Auburn at the Kickoff Classic and its first inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will replace the Georgia Dome starting in 2017. Auburn and Washington have never met before on the football field. Washington is ranked No. 5 and Auburn is No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

The game is set for Sept. 1, 2018 and it will be televised on ESPN. A kickoff time has not been set.

"Since our goal every year is to get to Atlanta and compete for a championship, I also like the opportunity for our team to play there early in the season," Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. "That’s an advantage for us. Atlanta is a great city, and the Auburn Family has a huge presence there. So it’s a great game, venue and location for our student-athletes and our fans.”

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The Tigers previously lost to Clemson in 2012 and defeated Louisville in 2015 at the Kickoff Classic.

Auburn will be paid $4.2 million for participating in the game, which is the most it has ever received for a neutral-site game. Auburn was paid $3.2 million for participating in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.

RELATED: 2018 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic contract details

Auburn’s non-conference opponents

2017

Sept. 2: Georgia Southern

Sept. 9: at Clemson

Sept. 16: Mercer

Nov. 18: Louisiana Monroe

2018

Sept. 1: Washington (Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta)

Sept. 29: Southern Miss

Nov. 17: Alabama State

2019

Aug. 31: Oregon (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)

2020

Sept. 26: Southern Miss

Nov. 21: Alabama A&M

2021

Sept. 18: at Penn State

Sept. 25: Georgia State

Nov. 20: Alabama State

2022

Sept. 17: Penn State

2023

Sept. 9: at California

2024

Sept. 7: California