Tennessee Reveals Kickoff Time for Home Opener

The Tennessee Volunteers have released the kickoff time for their home opener against Austin Peay.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Volunteers football program revealed that their home opener will kick off at 5 p.m. E.T. They will go up against the Austin Peay Governors on September 9th, a week after the opening game against Virginia in Nashville. The Volunteers look to extend their winning streak in home openers to four games as they have won three in a row against Missouri (2020), Bowling Green (2021), and Ball State (2020). In those three games, they have outscored their opponents 132-28. 

The last time the Volunteers played Austin Peay was also a home opener in 2013. Tennessee took the win 45-0. It was head coach Butch Jones's first game with Tennessee, and it was certainly a good one. Quarterback Justin Worley played well as he completed 11-13 passes and had three touchdowns. Running backs Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane also had great days in that game, with Neal running for 141 yards and a touchdown and Lane nabbing two touchdowns himself during the game. That game and win would be the first of five wins that season. Besides that matchup, the Vols have not played Austin Peay any other times. 

Tennessee WR Ramel Keyton during warmups against South Carolina in Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 9, 2021. (Photo by Saul Young)

The Governors had a decent 2022 season. They finished 7-4 and 3-2 in Ohio Valley conference play. They did play an SEC matchup last season against Alabama in Tuscaloosa and lost to them 34-0. However, they played another FBS opponent very well. At the beginning of last season, they played on the road at Western Kentucky and lost by a score of 38-27. The Governors lead the game at the end of the first quarter and put up over 300 yards on offense. The Volunteers now have a kickoff time and play a respectable FCS opponent to open the season in Neyland Stadium.  

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