Right now, Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Tigers must be gearing up to face off against Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday, October 11. They must already be losing sleep. As Auburn prepares for its Saturday showdown with Georgia, the team faces more than just an on-field opponent. The latest SEC developments add a layer of uncertainty that has left multiple programs unsettled. On top of that, there won’t be a pregame flyover.

On October 10, On3’s Auburn insider Caleb Jones confirmed the terrible news for Freeze’s squad: “NEWS: Auburn will NOT have a pregame flyover against No. 10 Georgia tomorrow night due to the government shutdown.” Among the pregame rituals, the flyover is one of the historic segments in football. Visualize a symphony of high-powered, supersonic-capable jet engines blazing across the sky at the conclusion of America’s beautiful anthem, and it is an absolute delight to the eyes. But poor old Auburn, they’ll be flying solo this time.

On September 12, they faced off against South Alabama. Auburn Tigers’ official Facebook page proudly posted, “🏈 Today’s pregame flyover was provided by the 300th Airlift Squadron with the Air Force Reserves out of Joint Base Charleston! ✈️. Thank you for your service and welcome to Jordan-Hare!” This shook things up since the Auburn vs. Georgia game will be without the pregame flyover.

After all, coming to this tradition, the 2025 season has been a special year. It entered its milestone year. WAKA Action 8 got an exclusive look at the training that powers Auburn’s iconic War Eagle Flyover. For 25 years, the eagle has soared above Jordan-Hare Stadium, locking onto its trainer at the 50-yard line while fans erupt with a thunderous “War Eagle, Hey!” – a breathtaking tradition of craftwork and school spirit.

A lot of effort goes into this training to make Auburn’s pregame extremely special. “It’s very good for their mental and physical health to fly in the stadium consistently. They train just like our athletes. We are out here flying 5 days a week, flying 3 times a day in order to build up that physical condition and confidence,” said Dr. Robyn Miller, the director of the Auburn University Raptor Center. And yes, it’s not a straightforward task. Imagine piloting a jet over the stadium!

In honor of the 25th year celebration of this pregame tradition, Auburn University started a campaign to honor the War Eagle tradition. But hardly did they expect a government ban on the front door. Besides, Auburn isn’t the only college facing the issue. 

From sky to sidelines: Auburn Tigers and Missouri Tigers’ jet dreams dashed

Even before Auburn witnessed its heartbreak, the Missouri fans were in a sour mood. On October 9, Mizzou Athletics tweeted the major announcement. “Due to the federal government shutdown, Saturday’s planned military flyover at the @MizzouFootball game has been canceled. Additionally, the ROTC Cannon Crew will not be present,” read part of the tweet. 

The ROTC cannon crew, known for firing the cannon after every Mizzou score, will also not be present. Now, that’s not promising news for the Missouri Tigers, whose Saturday game marks the sixth sellout game of the season. Eli Drinkwitz’s boys will face No. 8 Alabama at Memorial Stadium in a game that could deliver a signature win. However, unlike Auburn, Drinkwitz and co. have figured out an alternative to keep the fans’ spirits high. 

After all, today is a big day for Missouri, a team that hasn’t lost to Alabama since 1975. The tweet reassured, “We’re proud to share that the Missouri State Highway Patrol will serve as Saturday’s pregame color guard. We appreciate their support and look forward to honoring them at Memorial Stadium.#MIZ 🐯” While Missouri fans have something to cheer for – the Auburn fans? Their upset meter hits the roof.

Moreover, Auburn last defeated Georgia in 2017. Ever since, the Bulldogs have won the previous eight meetings. And what better time for Kirby Smart to instill more panic in Auburn? Chaos reigns in the Auburn territory. How will the fans handle the heat?