​Florida State men’s basketball will face Auburn on Oct. 18 in the annual preseason Ballin in Boutwell event in Birmingham, Alabama.It’s the Seminoles’ second consecutive appearance in the event, after facing Alabama last season. The annual event, presented by Nike and Hibbett, returns for a third year after sellout crowds in each of its first two editions.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFSU was close to playing Auburn in last season’s iteration, but opted for a different foe from the state of Alabama in the Crimson Tide.”We’re excited to be part of Ballin in Boutwell again this year,” Luke Loucks said in a press release. “It’s a tremendous event with a great atmosphere, and it’s exactly the kind of preseason challenge we’re looking for. We want to compete against the best teams possible because those games prepare us for what’s ahead. Opportunities like this help us evaluate where we are, expose areas we need to improve, and get our team ready for the start of the season.”1 / 55Shon Abaev goes through drills as Florida State men’s basketball held its first practice of the summer on Monday, June 22, 2026.(Liam Rooney/Tallahassee Democrat)The Tigers won the NIT last season and finished with a 22-16 record. For FSU, the Seminoles went 18-15 in Loucks’ debut season, ending the year with a near upset of Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.Tickets can be purchased at BallinInBoutwell.com.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLiam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU men’s basketball to face Auburn in Ballin in Boutwell event