MANHATTAN, Kan. -- The Kansas State athletics department received word Wednesday that the Wildcats’ 2007 season opener at Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 1, has been selected to air in primetime on ESPN and will kick off at 6:45 p.m. (CDT)/7:45 p.m. (EDT).

The game will mark Kansas State’s first appearance on the network since Sept. 10, 2005, when the Wildcats defeated Marshall, 21-19, on ESPN2. K-State’s last game to be broadcast by ESPN was the Wildcats’ 2003 season-opening 42-28 victory over California in the BCA Classic at Arrowhead Stadium on August 23, 2003.

Overall, K-State has won three in a row when playing on the ESPN family of networks, including a 34-27 victory over Arizona State in the 2002 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

Kansas State’s game at Auburn will mark the first time the Wildcats have opened a season with a true road game since K-State made its 2001 debut with a 10-6 victory at Southern California.

The Wildcats and Tigers have squared off twice previously, the last time coming during the 1979 season, when Kansas State dropped a 26-16 decision at Auburn in the season opener for both teams.