Auburn Baseball Faces Kansas State in Arlington

Tigers look to continue hot start against undefeated Wildcats

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:53pm

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No. 9 Auburn baseball takes on Kansas State on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers are coming off a season-opening sweep of Youngstown State, while the Wildcats are 4-0 after winning the MLB Desert Invitational last weekend. Auburn will start Virginia Tech transfer Jake Marciano on the mound, while Kansas State counters with junior right-hander James Guyette.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between two undefeated teams provides an opportunity for Auburn to continue building momentum and prove itself against quality competition. The game is also part of the Amegy College Baseball Series being held at the home of the Texas Rangers.

The details

Auburn is led by Marciano, who struck out 12 batters and allowed just two hits over five innings in the Tigers' season-opening win. Kansas State's lineup features power hitters Dee Kennedy and Carlos Vasquez, while Guyette had eight strikeouts in the Wildcats' first game.

  • The Auburn vs. Kansas State game starts at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • Auburn opened the season last weekend by sweeping Youngstown State.

The players

Jake Marciano

A Virginia Tech transfer who will start on the mound for Auburn, Marciano had an impressive debut with the Tigers last week.

James Guyette

The junior right-hander will take the mound for Kansas State after striking out eight batters in the Wildcats' season-opening win.

Dee Kennedy

The Kansas State slugger leads the team in home runs (3) and RBIs (15) so far this season.

Carlos Vasquez

The Wildcats' leading hitter at .556, Vasquez will be a key part of the Kansas State lineup.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to take on a quality opponent like Kansas State and continue building momentum for the season.”

— Butch Thompson, Auburn Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of Friday's game will have the opportunity to build on their early-season success and potentially earn a national ranking, while the loser will look to bounce back in the remainder of the series.

The takeaway

This matchup between two undefeated teams provides an early-season test for both Auburn and Kansas State, with the winner gaining valuable experience and confidence heading into the heart of their respective schedules.