IL State vs Auburn
Definition
A shorthand reference to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) men's college basketball semifinal matchup on April 2, 2026, between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Auburn Tigers, where Auburn dominated with an 88-66 victory.
Fan slang for any sports contest pitting Illinois State University against Auburn University, often evoking images of underdogs facing SEC powerhouse Tigers.
Examples
I stayed up late for IL State vs Auburn, only to watch the Redbirds get tiger food in the second half.
My bold prediction: IL State vs Auburn ends in a buzzer-beater, said no one who saw Auburn's offense.
Scrolling through IL State vs Auburn memes – because nothing heals a blowout like internet schadenfreude.
IL State vs Auburn proved once again that NIT semis are where dreams go to get dunked on.