Tennessee football announced a home-and-home series with Georgia Tech on Wednesday afternoon. The Vols will face the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta in 2026 before welcoming them back to Knoxville for a return trip in 2027.
The series replaces what was previously a long scheduled home-and-home with Nebraska before the Cornhuskers backed out of the game last month. Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White did a strong job of replacing the game with a power four home-and-home, avoiding a fourth straight season with a neutral site matchup against a ACC team.
“After Nebraska canceled the series, our main focus was to secure another home-and-home matchup with an opponent from a Power Four conference, which seemed improbable at the time,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “I sincerely appreciate Athletic Director J Batt’s creativity in modifying Georgia Tech’s schedule to make this series possible. We look forward to seeing plenty of orange in Atlanta in 2026!”
The first meeting will take place on Sept. 12, 2026 in Atlanta. It’s unclear whether the game will take place at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium or the Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee will host Georgia Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 11, 2027.
Josh Heupel’s fifth Tennessee team opens up its 2025 season at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against Syracuse on Aug. 30. With Georgia Tech’s increased ability to sell tickets at the Atlanta Falcons home, there’s a good chance Tennessee will play there consecutive seasons.
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The Vols are in a long run of facing ACC teams in non conference play. Tennessee opened up its 2023 season against Virginia in Nashville and faced NC State in Charlotte last season. Combine home-and-homes with Pitt in 2021-22 with the new home-and-home with Georgia Tech in 2026-27, Tennessee will play ACC teams in non conference play seven straight seasons.
Tennessee and Georgia Tech have a long history of facing off on the football field for two teams that play in different conferences. The Vols hold a 25-17-2 advantage in the all time series. Tennessee won the last meeting in 2017 as Butch Jones’ last Tennessee team knocked off Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets 42-41 in double overtime.
The matchup in 2017 was the first time the two teams had met since 1987. Tennessee and Georgia Tech played every season but three from 1954-87. Georgia Tech was a founding member of the SEC before leaving the conference in 1964.
The Yellow Jackets have improved in recent seasons, posting a 7-6 record in each of Brent Key’s first two seasons as head coach. Georgia Tech nearly defeated instate rival Georgia last season before losing the game and then again to Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl to end the season.
