Auburn issues statement after fans trample security, cause multiple injuries ahead of ESPN College GameDay

Auburn University released a statement following an incident where fans trampled security personnel and caused multiple injuries ahead of ESPN’s College GameDay.

Auburn usually allows student to line up over a period of time outside the arena. However, temperatures dipped to dangerously low levels, causing a change up in the traditional pregame plans.

It turned into a bit of a disaster.

“Extreme weather conditions during the course of the week forced Auburn to make the difficult decision to disallow the traditional premier match-up camp out which occurs in Jungle Village, and allows students to line up gradually over a period of time,” the statement read. “As temperatures deemed a camp out to be unsafe, the student line was announced to open at 6:30 a.m., prior to doors opening for students and fans at 7 a.m. For a brief moment upon line opening, a group of students rushed around the side of security, working personnel and students who had staged near the barricade entry.

“Those students began jumping barricades to gain entry which impacted the students trying to enter the barricades in an orderly fashion. All students in line in advance of this morning’s live broadcast – including students who walked up after the initial line was cleared – were admitted to the arena and provided with a wristband for entry to tonight’s game. On site medical staff reported a few minor injures which were addressed locally by EMS. Auburn is reviewing feedback and video footage from the line to develop plans for future games to ensure student safety.”

The line for The Jungle is open! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/W6ugxxLX6v

— E2C Network: The Auburn Experience (@E2C_Network) January 25, 2025

No. 1 Auburn is set take on No. 6 Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. ET in one of the most anticipated games this month.

Safe to say, the change in pregame plans was met with mixed reaction.

“Let me preface this by saying that I love Auburn, that being said, this is the worst way we could’ve done this,” Auburn fan Brent Jordan wrote on Twitter, reacting to the video of students sprinting inside the fences. “Multiple reports of broken noses, legs, wrists, etc.. multiple trampled victims, and just overall a terrible experience for everyone involved. I would’ve taken frostbite from camping in ‘extreme cold temps’ over this any day.”

Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson reported there were just three minor injuries amid the chaos. He relayed the information from the Auburn athletic department at 11:35 a.m. ET.

“Hate anyone got injured,” Hokanson wrote. “I’m told by an athletic department official there were only three minor injuries following some students rushing over the barricades and disrupting the original student line.”