FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2026
Contact: Joel Lamp (jlamp@huntsville.org)
Auburn returns to the Rocket City Classic presented by Akima to face MTSU
Tigers set to return to Huntsville for first time since 2023
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The matchup for the 2026 edition of the Rocket City Classic presented by Akima welcomes two programs that will be looking to make their mark at Propst Arena in the 2026-27 season.
Auburn, after a spirited run to the NIT title in March, will make its return to Huntsville to face Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, 2026.
“The Rocket City Classic has become a staple of the Huntsville sports schedule each year and we are proud to welcome Auburn and MTSU back to our community this season,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “We are always excited to bring the spotlight of the college basketball world back on our city for an event that will make a tremendous impact on our community.”
After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament under first-year head coach Steven Pearl, the Tigers ran through the NIT field to win the tournament for the first time to finish the season with a 22-16 record. Auburn returns some major star power, led by guard Tahaad Pettiford. The junior guard averaged 15.4 points per game last year to go with a team-high 145 assists.
“We are excited to return to Huntsville and play in front of the Auburn family,” said Pearl. “This is a tremendous opportunity to compete at a neutral site against a perennially competitive program in Middle Tennessee. I have great respect for Coach McDevitt and I know he will have his team ready to play.”
MTSU returns to Huntsville in a preview for the Conference USA basketball championships in March. The Blue Raiders were knocked off in the first round of the CUSA Championship by eventual runner-up Louisiana Tech, finishing the season with a 17-15 record. Starting his ninth season in charge of the Blue Raiders, head coach Nick McDevitt has led the team to a winning record in four of the last five seasons with a trip to the NIT in 2025.
“It’s an honor for our team to play in this year’s Rocket City Classic,” McDevitt said. “We know that our season comes down to winning three games here in March and playing an outstanding Auburn team gives us great preparation for chasing the Conference USA title.”
This is the fourth edition of the Rocket City Classic presented by Akima after being relaunched in 2023 with Auburn facing UNC-Asheville and has featured sellouts in two of the first three years.
“Thanks to the support of Akima, we continue to make the Rocket City Classic better each year and have a great matchup this year,” said Joel Lamp, sports development manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This game has become a can’t-miss event on the Huntsville sports schedule, and we look forward to another great game.”
Presale for tickets starts on Monday, June 8th, at 10 a.m., with tickets on sale to the public on June 10th at 10 a.m.
“We are proud to welcome Auburn and MTSU to Huntsville for this year’s game,” said Mark Russell, executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “We’re committed to making this a great experience for everyone and showcasing our city on a national stage.”