Tennessee adds in-state foe to 2027 nonconference schedule
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tennessee has added a non-conference opponent to its 2027 home schedule, and it’s an in-state school that the Volunteers will be facing for the first time in program history.
According to FBSchedules.com, Tennessee and FCS Tennessee State will play each other on Sept. 4, 2027, at Neyland Stadium. Per FBSchedules, Tennessee will pay Tennessee State $600,000.
The Tigers, a member of the OVC-Big South, went 9-4 in 2024 under former All-Pro running back Eddie George, earning a bid to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013. George led TSU to a 24-22 record in 4 seasons, but he had to be replaced this offseason after accepting the head coaching job at Bowling Green.
Tennessee State hired former Alabama State and Virginia State head coach Reggie Barlow in March. Barlow, a Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, previously coached in the XFL with the DC Defenders.
According to a report from The Tennessean, TSU athletic director Mikki Allen had initially campaigned for the game to be played at the newly built Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which will be completed in 2027. The Tigers currently play at the current Nissan Stadium.
Along with Tennessee State, the Volunteers will also host Georgia Tech and Western Michigan in 2027. Tennessee’s last meeting against Georgia Tech was in 2017, while the game against Western Michigan will be the first meeting in program history.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
