Tennessee tabs familiar regional foe to fill scheduling holes in 2026 and 2027
After getting left at the altar by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who backed out of the schools' long scheduled home and home games for 2026 and 2027, it appears Tennessee athletic director Danny White found a dance partner for the Vols – and it's someone that Tennessee has faced regularly over the course of the program's […]
After getting left at the altar by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who backed out of the schools' long scheduled home and home games for 2026 and 2027, it appears Tennessee athletic director Danny White found a dance partner for the Vols – and it's someone that Tennessee has faced regularly over the course of the program's history.
Tennessee and Georgia Tech reached an agreement to play, which the latter formally announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The schools will play in Atlanta first on September 12, 2026, with the return trip coming in Knoxville on September 11, 2027. It was not clarified if the game in Atlanta will be played on campus at Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium, or if it will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tennessee and Georgia Tech, at least historically, are no strangers to each other, having played 44 times in their history. That's in large part because both schools were members of the SEC together from 1933 to 1963. However, they continued playing almost annually until 1987, which is their second most recent matchup.
The teams last faced off in the 2017 season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee was outgained by a staggering margin of 655 yards (535 on the ground) to 369. The Vols, who trailed 28-14 in the fourth quarter, were behind or tied for the entirety of the game until the second overtime, when they took a 42-35 lead. Georgia Tech scored to make it 42-41 and went for two, but the Vols' defense stuffed Tech QB TaQuon Marshall and forced a desperation throw to fall incomplete to secure the win.
Nebraska pulled out of its game with Tennessee back on February 21 without giving a reason, although Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule all but confirmed why during an interview days later. The game had been schedule almost 20 years earlier, way back in 2006.
Instead, Tennessee will get to rekindle an old regional rivalry that won't be far for Tennessee fans to have to travel to attend.
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