Bill Snyder

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder watches his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State won 33-31. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MANHATTAN, Kansas

-- Kansas State fans have circled Auburn in heavy ink on their calendar.

Auburn's trip to Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 18 is officially a sellout, Kansas State announced Tuesday. It's the first home game to sell out at K-State this summer.

The early-season trip to the 50,000-seat stadium on a Thursday night could prove difficult for Auburn, which has not faced a non-conference opponent on a Thursday night since 2008.

"Oh, there's no doubt," Auburn coach

Gus Malzahn

said in May. "Our road games in our conference are tough enough but then when you go to Kansas State, one of the tougher places to play with one of the better coaches to ever coach college football, that will be a very tough task."

Kansas State went 8-5 last season and won six of its final seven games under coach

Bill Snyder

. The Wildcats, who knocked off Michigan 31-14 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, open the season against Stephen F. Austin on Aug. 30.

Seven of the 10 best-attended games in Bill Snyder Family Stadium occurred last season, with each home game eclipsing capacity. The attendance record at the stadium is 53,811.

"K-State fans have stepped up again and are on the verge of another sold-out season at Bill Snyder Family Stadium," Kansas State ahletics director

John Currie

said in a news release. "We are closing in on 20 consecutive sellouts and expect to do so before the season begins, and we appreciate our fans' support in making Bill Snyder Family Stadium on gamedays the best environment in the Big 12."