One thing’s for certain: The Auburn football team will travel to Morgantown, WVa., next season.
The when, however, is a different story.
During Chick-fil-A Bowl practice in Atlanta in late December, Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville told reporters that the Tigers’ game against West Virginia — currently scheduled for Sept. 6 — might be pushed back until later in the college football season to a Thursday night contest on ESPN.
AU athletics director Jay Jacobs confirmed that’s still a possibility, and, if changed, the nationally televised game would be played on Oct. 23.
However, since it’s West Virginia’s home game, it’s up to them to work out the details with ESPN, and even then, Auburn still has the right to accept or reject.
“We would like to (move the game),” Jacobs told the Opelika-Auburn News. “It’s West Virginia’s home game. If they and ESPN can work it out where it’s good for us then so be it. But if not, we’re going to play it on that second Saturday (of the season, Sept. 6).
“But we’re willing to listen to ESPN and West Virginia and what they come up with.”
Jacobs said the last time someone from ESPN talked to AU officials, Oct. 23 was the target date.
If that happens, Auburn will have some adjustments to make on its schedule.
Currently, Auburn plays at home vs. Southern Miss on Oct. 18 — which is the Saturday before. The next week Auburn is on a bye.
However, if the game is moved to that Thursday night (Oct. 23), Auburn will then play Southern Miss on Sept. 6, and be off Oct. 18.
“The one thing about playing on Thursday night in the middle of the year is it gives you extra days to prepare for West Virginia,” Jacobs said. “Then it gives you extra days to prepare for Ole Miss.”
Auburn plays Arkansas on Oct. 11 and Ole Miss on Nov. 1, which — if the deal when through — would give the Tigers 12 days to prepare for the Mountaineers and then nine days to get ready for the Rebels.
Jacobs made it clear, however, that the decision for Auburn to agree to the change would be solely up to Tuberville.
“We’ll see what (West Virginia and ESPN) come up with,” Jacobs said. “I’ll leave that decision up to Tommy. It makes no difference to me, I just want to win the game. So whatever gives us the best chance to win the game ...
“Tommy knows better than anybody.”

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Current 2008 schedule:
Aug. 30 vs. La.-Monroe
Sept. 6 at West Virginia
Sept. 13 at Mississippi State
Sept. 20 vs. LSU
Sept. 27 vs. Tennessee
Oct. 4 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 11 vs. Arkansas
Oct. 18 vs. Southern Miss
Oct. 25 BYE
Nov. 1 at Ole Miss
Nov. 8 vs. Tennessee-Martin
Nov. 15 vs. Georgia
Nov. 22 BYE
Nov. 29 at Alabama

If AU-WVU move game to Oct. 23:
Aug. 30 vs. La.-Monroe
Sept. 6 vs. Southern Miss
Sept. 13 at Miss. State
Sept. 20 vs. LSU
Sept. 27 vs. Tennessee
Oct. 4 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 11 vs. Arkansas
Oct. 18 BYE
Oct. 23 at West Virginia
Nov. 1 at Ole Miss
Nov. 8 vs. Tennessee-Martin
Nov. 15 vs. Georgia
Nov. 22 BYE
Nov. 29 at Alabama