You're sitting there, remote in hand, or maybe scrolling through a cluttered app on your phone, and you just want the game. It should be simple. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026. If you're looking for the Auburn men’s basketball game today, I’ll save you the frustration: they don't play today. Bruce Pearl's squad actually just wrapped up a tough road trip to Missouri on Wednesday and they’re currently prepping for a "Nothing but Neon" showdown against South Carolina tomorrow, January 17, at Neville Arena.
But wait. If you came here because you saw "Auburn" on a schedule for today, you aren't crazy.
Auburn women’s tennis is actually the headline act for Friday. They are hosting a double-header at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The No. 4 ranked Tigers take on Western Carolina right now (started at 11 a.m. CT) and then Liberty later this evening at 5:30 p.m. CT. If you’re trying to find that on a traditional cable box, you’re out of luck. It’s almost entirely streaming via the Auburn Athletics live stream links or specialized regional digital feeds.
Auburn Game Today What Channel: The Men’s Basketball Situation
Kinda annoying, right? You want to see the men’s team, but they’re in that weird Friday gap. Honestly, the 2025-26 SEC schedule has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After a wild 104-100 overtime loss to Georgia earlier this month and a heartbreaker against Texas A&M, the Tigers finally found some rhythm by thumping Arkansas 95-73.
If you are planning for the weekend, here is the deal for the next men's game:
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- Matchup: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Auburn Tigers
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM CST (6:00 PM EST)
- Channel: SEC Network
Basically, if you have a cable subscription or a live-streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV, you just need to find the SEC Network. If the game isn't appearing on the main channel because of a blowout elsewhere, it usually shifts to SEC Network+, which you access through the ESPN app using your provider login.
Why the channel keeps changing
One day it’s ESPN, the next it’s ESPN2, then suddenly you’re hunting for a Peacock subscription. It’s enough to make you want to throw your router out the window. For the 2026 season, the SEC's new deal with Disney means almost everything is under the ESPN umbrella, but they love to flex games.
The big rivalry games—like the upcoming battle against Alabama on February 7—are almost always slated for ESPN or ESPN2. The mid-week grinds often end up on ESPNU or the SEC Network. If you're a die-hard, you’ve probably realized by now that the ESPN+ subscription isn't just a "nice to have" anymore; it's a requirement for the non-conference games and the smaller sports.
Don't Forget the Women's Team and Gymnastics
If you’re actually looking for the Auburn women’s basketball team, they just pulled off a massive upset last night. They took down No. 21 Alabama 58-54 in a game that literally came down to a charge taken by Syriah Daniels in the final four seconds. It was electric. Since they played Thursday, they are off today as well.
Gymnastics is the other big "watch" for January. Suni Lee might be gone, but the atmosphere at Neville Arena is still top-tier. Their next big televised meet is Sunday, January 18, at Arkansas. That one will be live on the SEC Network at 5 p.m. CT.
How to stream when cable fails
Let’s be real. Cable is dying, and sometimes the "Auburn game today what channel" search leads you to a dead end because the game is "digital only."
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- The ESPN App: This is your home base. Even if you don't have the "plus" version, this is where SEC Network+ lives.
- Hulu + Live TV: This has become the gold standard for SEC fans because it includes the SEC Network, ESPN, and even those weird TNT/truTV games we saw during the Las Vegas tournament earlier this season.
- Sling TV: Kinda the budget pick. You need the "Sling Orange" package plus the "Sports Extra" add-on to get the SEC Network. Without that add-on, you're missing half the season.
What's Next for the Tigers?
Auburn is currently sitting at a crossroads in the SEC standings. After a 9-4 start to the season, they really need to defend home court tomorrow against South Carolina. Neville Arena (or "The Jungle") is still one of the hardest places to play in the country, but the Tigers have shown some defensive lapses in the second half of games lately.
Keep an eye on Tahaad Pettiford. The freshman has been a spark plug, but his shooting has been streaky. If he’s on, Auburn is nearly impossible to beat at home. If he’s off, it puts a ton of pressure on Johni Broome’s successors in the paint to clean up the glass.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official Auburn Tigers website and download the schedule directly to your phone. It updates automatically when tip-off times or channels change.
- Check the ESPN App now: Don't wait until 5:01 PM tomorrow to realize your login has expired. Log in today and make sure your "Provider" is authenticated.
- Grab your "Nothing but Neon" gear: If you're heading to the plains tomorrow, the dress code is bright. If you're watching from the couch, at least make sure the SEC Network is in your channel lineup before the Saturday afternoon rush.