by Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Oregon is scheduled to kick off another college football season at AT&T Stadium, and the Texas venue won't be the only familiar element.

The Ducks will meet Auburn in the AdvoCare Classic to open the 2019 season, it was announced Tuesday. The matchup will take place Aug. 31 of that fall, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"An invitation to participate on a stage likes this speaks to the reputation Oregon football has earned, and we're excited to be part of such a prestigious matchup,” UO athletic director Rob Mullens said.

Oregon last played in AT&T Stadium’s annual marquee season-opening matchup in 2011, losing to Louisiana State 40-27 in the game then known as the Cowboys Classic. That followed the Ducks' defeat nine months earlier to Auburn in the Bowl Championship Series title game following the 2010 regular season.

AT&T Stadium also hosted last season's inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game, between Oregon and Ohio State.

Tuesday's announced date with Auburn fits in a series of premier nonconference matchups in the coming years for Oregon, including Michigan State in 2015, Nebraska in 2016 and 2017, and Ohio State in 2020 and 2021.

"We're excited about the opportunity to compete against another high quality nonconference opponent," UO coach Mark Helfrich said.

The Ducks' 2019 schedule also includes a home date with Nevada one week later, on Sept. 7 in Autzen Stadium. UO officials expect to complete the nonconference slate with another home date, against an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision.

The addition of the Tigers helps fill a void created when a scheduled home-and-home series with Texas A&M was cancelled. The Ducks had been scheduled to play at Texas A&M in 2019. UO officials are still working to replace the void on the home schedule for 2018 created by the cancellation.

The neutral site game with Auburn comes with a $3.5 million payout for Oregon, and the athletic department has an obligation to purchase and resell 6,520 tickets. Details on ticket sales are to be announced, as is the TV schedule.

Oregon and Auburn have met in football just once, for the national championship on Jan. 10, 2011. The Tigers won 22-19 with a field goal on the game's final snap, after the Ducks tied it with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 2:33 to play.