Auburn and Baylor will take the field this Saturday for the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game. They will honor Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III, respectively, as their captains at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
I got the chance to speak with Peach Bowl Inc. CEO David Epps about what it means to have two former Heisman winners representing their programs. He spoke on the importance of having a local legend, Atlanta native Newton, as a spokesperson. Epps also revealed how Newton and RG3 plan on giving back in their roles.
In support of "Kickoff for a Cause," a partnership between Aflac, Peach Bowl, Inc., and Twin Cedars' annual football charity event that benefits the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Newton and Griffin will be walking onto the field with some of the children these causes are for.
They will be part of a ceremonial coin toss.
"For us, anytime we can do something that lends authenticity to the game, that's really, really important to us. Especially when you have a neutral-site game like this, if you can do something that ties more authentically to the teams and maybe to their history and heritage, that's also really great. And so we know it adds to the fandom for us, having RG3 and having Cam Newton, especially being a local guy. It accomplishes all those things," Epps said.
"We're just really proud to have those guys. Obviously, they love their schools. Their fans love those guys, so it's going to be really exciting to have them there. The other thing that's really neat about this is for the Aflac Kickoff Game, we've called it the 'Kickoff for a Cause,' and that's because of what we try to support: childhood cancer treatments and awareness. We actually have some patients who have been treated through Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on both sides of the field. So our honorary captains will also be going out with some patients or former patients to midfield for the coin toss. So it works on so many different levels."
The "Kickoff for a Cause" raised over $1.2 million last year to aid pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease research, providing specialized therapeutic tools like My Special Aflac Ducks to patients, per a press release. Last year, there were two games for the 2025 "Aflac Kickoff Game" initiative: Tennessee-Syracuse and South Carolina-Virginia Tech.
David Epps on what else Cam Newton and RG3 bring to the game
Newton and Griffin's help in spreading awareness to support children in need is the true purpose of their involvement in the game. Still, there is a marketing element to getting attention on the game itself with the two prominent football media personalities.
As Epps explained, the two bring out the inner college football fan in him and will do the same for fans of both schools, and otherwise, who are watching.
"If you work in this business, you get a little bit agnostic, but when you get down to it, you're still a fan, right? You love college football, and you love what it means. And so the fan in me looks at this and says, 'This is amazingly cool to have two Heisman Trophy winners.' Especially with these two teams who care enough to be there and be a part of this celebration during opening weekend. So, I mean, from the businessman in me, we know that social media is going to love it, and it's going to create some potentially viral images," Epps said.
"But if I'm just a fan in the stands, I ask, 'How many times do you get two fairly recent, really dynamic Heisman Trophy winners in the same place?' It's going to be hard not to fanboy a little bit just standing there saying, 'These two guys are legends.'"
It will be a special moment on Saturday when the two captains take the field to support a great cause, whether you're a fan of Auburn, Baylor, or football in general.
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