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How Tennessee football already meets a new SEC scheduling requirement through 2030
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- How Tennessee football already meets a new SEC scheduling requirement through 2030
Tennessee football has nonconference matchups scheduled with power-conference opponents through 2030, which meets a new SEC scheduling requirement announced Aug. 21 .
The conference announced it will require teams to schedule at least one "high-quality nonconference" game against a team from the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame in each season. It also is going to a nine-game SEC schedule starting in 2026 under the new format.
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Here are the games Tennessee has scheduled that meet the requirement:
Tennessee is playing Georgia Tech in 2026, 2027
Tennessee agreed to a two-game deal with Georgia Tech in April to play in 2026 and 2027 after Nebraska backed out of its series with the Vols.
Georgia Tech will host Tennessee on Sept. 12, 2026, at either Bobby Dodd Stadium or potentially Mercedes-Benz Stadium. UT will face Georgia Tech at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 11, 2027.
The 2026 matchup will be the first since the 2017 season opener, when Tennessee won 42-41 in double overtime in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Georgia Tech has not played at Neyland Stadium since a 29-15 loss in 1987.
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Tennessee plays West Virginia in Charlotte in 2028
Tennessee is slated to open the 2028 season against West Virginia at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 2 in the Duke's Mayo Classic. The matchup was announced in April 2021 .
The Vols opened the 2018 season against West Virginia in the Belk Bowl Kickoff. The Vols lost 40-14 in the first game under coach Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired in January 2021 for alleged widespread recruiting malfeasance.
UT beat NC State 51-10 in the Duke's Mayo Classic in September 2024.
RIVALRIES: Who should Tennessee football's three annual rivals be in SEC's nine-game schedule?
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Tennessee schedules Washington in 2029, 2030
Tennessee and Washington announced a home-and-home series in January 2022. UT will host Washington on Sept. 1, 2029. The Vols will play in Seattle on Sept. 7, 2030.
The programs have never played in football. UT's Neyland Stadium and Washington's Husky Stadium are two of three on-campus college football stadiums where fans can arrive by boat. Baylor's McLane Stadium is the third.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football schedule: Vols nonconference games through 2030
