Auburn’s AUTLIVE Game Returns Feb. 21, Continuing the Fight Against Cancer
When Auburn hosts Kentucky on Feb. 21 at Neville Arena, it won’t just be another marquee SEC showdown-it’ll be a night with purpose. The Tigers’ annual AUTLIVE game, now in its 12th year, is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT, and once again, it’s about more than basketball.
AUTLIVE, powered by the Pearl Family Foundation, is Auburn’s way of turning a primetime game into a platform for cancer awareness, early detection, and support for patients across Alabama. It’s a cause rooted in something deeply personal for the Pearl family and the Auburn community.
The initiative began back in 2009 when Bruce Pearl and his coaching staff first launched it during his time at Tennessee, inspired by former Vol Chris Lofton’s courageous battle with testicular cancer. Lofton didn’t just survive-he played an entire season while undergoing treatment.
That kind of grit set the tone for what AUTLIVE would become.
Since then, the campaign has grown into a statewide movement. T-shirt sales and donations from the game help fund cancer programs and treatment centers throughout Alabama. And for Auburn fans, it’s become a tradition that goes beyond the scoreboard-an opportunity to rally around a cause that touches nearly every family in some way.
“Over the past 11 seasons, the Auburn Family has stepped up in a powerful way to help make AUTLIVE a statewide campaign with meaningful impact on countless lives,” said Head Coach Steven Pearl. “The funds raised through AUTLIVE allow patients to focus on one thing - their fight against cancer. Your generosity directly impacts people right here in our state, giving them a true homecourt advantage in the fight to beat cancer.”
That "homecourt advantage" isn’t just a metaphor. The money raised through AUTLIVE directly supports cancer patients and treatment facilities across the state.
We're talking about real help for real people at places like Russell Medical Foundation, Children’s of Alabama, East Alabama Medical Center, Mitchell Cancer Center, and several others. These are the institutions where families turn when they need hope-and AUTLIVE helps provide it.
In addition to the game and fundraising efforts, the Mike Slive Foundation will be onsite offering free PSA blood screenings. Fans attending the game can stop by the Hall of Honor on the concourse level of Neville Arena to take part. It’s a simple step that could make all the difference when it comes to early detection.
So while the Tigers and Wildcats will be battling it out on the hardwood, the real victory on Feb. 21 will come in the stands, where fans in AUTLIVE shirts will be standing up for something bigger. It’s a night where basketball meets purpose-and Auburn continues to prove that when this community comes together, it’s capable of making a real impact.
For more on how to get involved or to make a donation, visit Pearlfamilyfoundation.com or AuburnTigers.com/autlive.