Auburn Gymnastics Opens 2026 at Home, Welcomes NC State for First Meet on the Plains

No. 11 Tigers begin season under the lights on the Plains, testing depth and chemistry against a ranked Wolfpack squad

AUBURN, Ala. | The road to March begins Friday night on the Plains as the No. 11 Auburn Tigers launch the 2026 gymnastics season at home, hosting No. 23 NC State inside a raucous Neville Arena for the annual First Meet on the Plains. First rotation is set for 7 p.m. CT, with live coverage streaming on SEC Network+.

For head coach Jeff Graba, the opener is less about the scoreboard and more about establishing habits that can carry the Tigers through a demanding SEC slate.

“What I’m looking to see Friday night is a great start to our process,” Graba said. “We’re going to need to see consistency and a team that sticks together and buys into the process.”

A Statement Test Right Out of the Gate

Auburn won’t have the luxury of easing into the season. The Tigers face an NC State team they’ll see multiple times during the regular season—an early measuring stick against a preseason top-25 opponent.

“This NC State team is really well coached,” Graba noted. “They are a tough team to go against. I’m expecting they are going to show up and give us their best shot.”

The matchup offers Auburn a prime opportunity to test competitive composure, execution under pressure, and lineup versatility from day one.

Youth Meets Experience

The 2026 Auburn roster skews junior- and sophomore-heavy, complemented by an incoming freshman class eager to make an immediate impact. January, Graba says, is the perfect laboratory.

“We’ve got a lot of new people with a great group of returners,” he said. “There is an opportunity for these new people to show up and do things.”

Expect early-season experimentation as Auburn blends proven routines with new faces, searching for the optimal mix before conference play intensifies.

Neville Arena: The Edge

Few venues in collegiate gymnastics rival the atmosphere at Neville Arena—a place visiting teams admire and dread in equal measure. Auburn feeds off the energy, and the fanbase has become a defining advantage.

“It’s probably one of the toughest places to compete in the country,” Graba said. “The home field advantage here is significant.”

Friday’s opener is expected to draw another packed house, setting the tone for the season and reaffirming Neville Arena’s reputation as one of the sport’s premier stages.

What’s Next

After Friday night, Auburn wastes no time stepping into conference fire. The Tigers hit the road to face No. 10 Arkansas on January 18, their first SEC test of 2026, with the meet set for 5 p.m. CT at Bud Walton Arena and televised on the SEC Network.

But first, all eyes are on Friday—where process meets performance, and a new Auburn gymnastics season officially begins.

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-- By Andréa Mochida

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