James Franklin will go back to his SEC roots. Well, assuming he’s still leading Penn State in 2022.

Penn State announced on Monday that the Lions will have a home-and-home with Auburn beginning in 2021.

The series will begin in State College on Sept. 18, 2021 and the Lions will travel to take on Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 17, 2022.

The matchup will mark the third and fourth time that the two teams meet, but the first time ever in the regular season. This will be the first time that Auburn is taking on a B1G team in the regular season.

“This is another great opportunity for our players and fans to be part of something special,” Auburn Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. “Bringing together elite programs rich in tradition is what college football is all about. We look forward to this home-and-home series with Penn State.”

Penn State will also take on Buffalo in 2019 and Ball State in 2021.

That means Penn State’s 2019 non-conference schedule is filled. Here’s a look at Penn State’s non-conference schedule in the next seven years:

2016

  • 09/03 – Kent State
  • 09/10 – at Pittsburgh
  • 09/17 – Temple

2017

  • 09/02 – Akron
  • 09/09 – Pittsburgh
  • 09/16 – Georgia State

2018

  • 09/01 – Appalachian State
  • 09/08 – at Pittsburgh
  • 09/15 – Kent State

2019

  • 08/31 – Idaho
  • 09/7 – Buffalo
  • 09/14 – Pittsburgh

2020

  • 09/02 – at Virginia Tech

2021

  • 09/11 – vs. Ball State
  • 09/18 – vs. Auburn

2022

  • 09/17 – at Auburn