Purdue and Auburn, two men's basketball programs that have met just three times in history, have finalized a two-year series that begins next season.
The first game will be held in Birmingham on December 21, 2024, and the return game will be on December 20, 2025, in Indianapolis, as part of the Indy Classic.
“I'm grateful to Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers for agreeing to play a two-game series this year in Birmingham and next year in Indianapolis,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. “Matt has one of the best college basketball programs in the country. His guys play hard and play it the right way. Purdue is one of the best programs in the Big Ten, has won three conference championships and has been ranked number one nationally for the past three seasons.
“We're excited to play in Birmingham, which will serve as our NCAA regional home. With a quality opponent like Purdue, I expect we'll sell out Legacy Arena. I know the Auburn family will step up and rise to that challenge. We're excited for our players, because if you want to be the best, you have to play against the best.”
The last meeting between the teams came at the 2016 Cancun Challenge. Prior to that meeting, they played in the 2001 NIT and the 1985 NCAA Tournament. Purdue leads the all-time series 2-1.
“We're excited to be part of an outstanding two-year series with Auburn, starting in December in Birmingham and then returning to Indianapolis in 2025,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We're striving to make our nonconference schedule very competitive, and Auburn will be one of the top teams in the SEC next season.”
Both teams are ranked in ESPN's Top 25 too early, with Auburn at No. 11 and Purdue at No. 16.
Auburn won 27 games last season before losing to 13th-seeded Yale in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but the Tigers reloaded with the addition of Furman transfer J.P. Pegues and the return of potential preseason All-American Johni Broome.
Purdue lost the national championship game to UConn and will begin the post-Zach Edey era behind the veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer.
