Florida State men’s basketball is headed back to Birmingham for another high-profile preseason test. The Seminoles will face the Auburn Tigers in the 2026 Ballin in Boutwell exhibition on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ET inside Boutwell Auditorium. The matchup will mark Florida State’s second consecutive appearance in the event after taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2025 showcase.
The exhibition will give second-year head coach Luke Loucks an early opportunity to evaluate his roster against one of the SEC’s top programs before the 2026-27 regular season begins. Loucks went 18-15 overall and 10-8 in ACC play during his first season, setting a Florida State record for conference victories by a first-year head coach. The Seminoles also won seven of their final eight games and advanced to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
“We’re excited to be part of Ballin in Boutwell again this year,” Loucks said in the school’s announcement. “It’s a tremendous event with a great atmosphere, and it’s exactly the kind of preseason challenge we’re looking for.”
Loucks added that facing high-level competition will allow Florida State to identify areas that need improvement before the results begin to count.
Florida State and Auburn will headline a week-long basketball celebration featuring five men’s and women’s exhibition games and four programs from Alabama. Ballin in Boutwell, presented by Nike and Hibbett, returns for its third year after drawing sellout crowds in each of its first two editions.
For the Seminoles, the matchup represents another demanding preseason assignment as Loucks prepares for his second year leading his alma mater. Tickets for the exhibition are currently on sale through the Ballin in Boutwell website.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State basketball sets another preseason matchup for 2026
Reporting by Brandon Foster, FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brandon Foster, FSU Wire | USA TODAY Network
