The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, operators of the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game, announced Thursday that Tennessee and Syracuse will face off in Atlanta open the 2025 season.
The first meeting between the Vols and Orange in 24 years will take place on Saturday August 30 2025 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Exact kickoff time and broadcast details will be announced at a later date but, the game will air on either ABC or ESPN.
“Syracuse and Tennessee have a history of playing thrilling contests when the two programs meet and we expect that to be the case again with their game to open the 2025 season here in Atlanta,” said Bob Somers, Peach Bowl, Inc. chairman. “Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be a raging sea of orange when these two programs clash for the first time in more than two decades.”
“We’re looking forward to having Tennessee back in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and welcoming Syracuse for the first time,” Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan said. “Thank you to Dino Babers and John Wildhack of Syracuse, as well as Josh Heupel and Danny White from Tennessee, for making this game possible.”
Tennessee and Syracuse have meet on the gridiron three times prior with the Vols holding a 3-0 record over the Orange. The first an 18-12 UT win in 1966. A 27 yard Jeff Hall field goal as time expired gave the Volunteers a 34-33 win over Donovan McNabb and Syracuse in the opener of Tennessee’s 1988 National Championship season. UT cruised to a 33-9 win in the most recent matchup between the Vols and Orange in 2001.
The 2025 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff will feature the 6th double header in the history of the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff with South Carolina and Virginia Tech also scheduled to meet Labor Day Weekend 2025 as well.
