Auburn and Illinois State Face Off in NIT Matchup

The two teams will meet in the postseason tournament in Indianapolis.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:01am

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The Illinois State Redbirds (23-12, 12-9 MVC) and the Auburn Tigers (20-16, 8-12 SEC) will face off in an NIT matchup in Indianapolis. Both teams had solid regular seasons but fell short of making the NCAA Tournament, so they will now compete in the National Invitation Tournament.

Why it matters

The NIT provides an opportunity for teams that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament to continue their seasons and compete for a postseason championship. This matchup between Illinois State and Auburn features two programs looking to end their seasons on a high note after falling short of their March Madness aspirations.

The details

Illinois State and Auburn will meet in the first round of the NIT at a neutral site in Indianapolis. The Redbirds finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference during the regular season, while the Tigers were in the middle of the pack in the SEC. Both teams will be eager to prove they belong in the postseason conversation despite missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

  • The game will take place on April 2, 2026.

The players

Illinois State Redbirds

The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams of Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois. They compete in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers are the athletic teams of Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama. They compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

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What’s next

The winner of this NIT first-round matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between Hofstra and Rutgers.

The takeaway

This NIT game provides a chance for Illinois State and Auburn to extend their seasons and compete for a postseason championship, even though they fell short of making the NCAA Tournament field.