Tennessee will open the 2012 football season in Atlanta in the nationally televised Chick-fil-A College Kickoff at the Georgia dome. The VOLS opponent will be the NC State Wolfpack.
When the Atlanta Sports Council and ESPN teamed up to create the game, they hoped that the annual SEC vs. ACC matchup would become the Daytona 500 of college football.
"I like it," Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien said. "You've got to play one major game that gets you on television. It's great exposure for our program."
Alabama upset Clemson in the inaugural game last year in Atlanta, televised on ABC. The teams got a reported payout of $1.9 million each for playing in the game.
The Crimson Tide will play Virginia Tech in this year's game, scheduled for Sept. 5.
UNC is negotiating a deal to face its own SEC opponent in the 2010 Kickoff game. The Tarheels have three possible opponents for the game -- LSU, Georgia or Ole Miss. However, due to the exposure the Crimson Tide got in last years game and their success recruiting the state of Georgia, Mark Richt is insisting that his Bulldogs get in the game. [Full read]
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