Auburn vs Florida State Game Off The Table?

Back in March Tomahawk Nation brought up the possibility of a neutral site game between the Tigers and Seminoles for 2018 or 2019. The game would have been in Jacksonville.

I gave my thoughts at the time on why I didn't think that particular match-up was likely to happen, and now it appears that I may have been correct, as Warchant.com (the Florida State Rivals site) is reporting that plans for that game have been scrapped.

To sum up my reasons for why I didn't think it would happen: Auburn would not likely want to play two straight years of neutral site games, and the way the out-of-conference scheduling for future years is playing out, that is what would need to have happened to make this game a reality. The only other way for it to work is if Auburn was able to line up a P5 team willing to come to Auburn for a one-off home game in 2018 or a home-and-home with the return trip in 2023.

I'm sure it'll get spun by many as Auburn not wanting to play the Seminoles, but I really don't think that's the case. I really think it comes down to Auburn not wanting two straight years of neutral site games, especially since 2018 is when the Tigers have to go to Athens and Tuscaloosa. Auburn wants another home game for that season to lighten the schedule a bit. The 2016 and 2017 seasons have Auburn scheduled to play Clemson in a home-and-home. 2020 and 2021 will be a series with Cal. So, 2018 and 2019 are open; however, I'm sure Auburn wants to fill that with another home-and-home.

Of course, all sorts of changes in scheduling plans could happen if the SEC decides to change up the current rotations and deregulate the way division champions are decided. We'll see.

Whatever the reasons, it's looking like the match-up isn't going to happen.