University of Tennessee Athletics
Football Moves 2027 and 2028 Season Opener Dates
September 30, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football has moved non-conference games against Georgia Tech in 2027 and West Virginia in 2028 to the former Week 0 date for those respective years, it was announced Wednesday.
The date changes align with the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee's rule proposal announced in August. The 2027 campaign begins the final weekend of August — currently designated as Week 0 — and ends on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The Volunteers will host Georgia Tech in Neyland Stadium on Aug. 28, 2027. The contest was originally scheduled for Week 2 on Sept. 11. Tennessee faced Georgia Tech in Atlanta earlier this season.
Tennessee will take on West Virginia in Charlotte in the Duke's Mayo Classic on Aug. 26, 2028. That game was originally slated for Sept. 2. In addition, the Vols' game against Chattanooga that was scheduled for Sept. 16 will move to Sept. 2.
The 2027 and 2028 schedule revisions give the Vols two open date weeks amidst a nine-game SEC schedule. The 2027 SEC schedule dates will be announced at a later date.
2027 Schedule
Aug. 28: Georgia Tech, Knoxville
Sept. 4: Tennessee State, Knoxville
Sept. 18: Western Michigan, Knoxville
SEC Home Opponents (4) (dates TBD): Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
SEC Road Opponents (5) (dates TBD): Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma
2028 Schedule
Aug. 26: vs. West Virginia*, Charlotte, N.C.
Sept. 2: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Sept. 9: Central Michigan, Knoxville
* - denotes Duke's Mayo Classic (Bank of America Stadium)
SEC Home Opponents (5) (dates TBD): Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas A&M
SEC Road Opponents (4) (dates TBD): Auburn, LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt
The date changes align with the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee's rule proposal announced in August. The 2027 campaign begins the final weekend of August — currently designated as Week 0 — and ends on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The Volunteers will host Georgia Tech in Neyland Stadium on Aug. 28, 2027. The contest was originally scheduled for Week 2 on Sept. 11. Tennessee faced Georgia Tech in Atlanta earlier this season.
Tennessee will take on West Virginia in Charlotte in the Duke's Mayo Classic on Aug. 26, 2028. That game was originally slated for Sept. 2. In addition, the Vols' game against Chattanooga that was scheduled for Sept. 16 will move to Sept. 2.
The 2027 and 2028 schedule revisions give the Vols two open date weeks amidst a nine-game SEC schedule. The 2027 SEC schedule dates will be announced at a later date.
2027 Schedule
Aug. 28: Georgia Tech, Knoxville
Sept. 4: Tennessee State, Knoxville
Sept. 18: Western Michigan, Knoxville
SEC Home Opponents (4) (dates TBD): Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
SEC Road Opponents (5) (dates TBD): Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma
2028 Schedule
Aug. 26: vs. West Virginia*, Charlotte, N.C.
Sept. 2: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Sept. 9: Central Michigan, Knoxville
* - denotes Duke's Mayo Classic (Bank of America Stadium)
SEC Home Opponents (5) (dates TBD): Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas A&M
SEC Road Opponents (4) (dates TBD): Auburn, LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt
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Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29
