The Virginia football team will open up its 2023 campaign by traveling to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2. Tennessee is coming off a remarkable 2022 season in which it won 11 games, doing so for the first time since 2001. Any time a team is able to win that many games in a season, it is quite noteworthy, but doing so while playing in the SEC only makes the feat more impressive.

The Volunteers are the first of four non-conference opponents that the Cavaliers will face in 2023. Coach Tony Elliott and his team will also play James Madison, Maryland, and William & Mary with the two in-state schools being home games at Scott Stadium.

Let’s take a closer look at the first opponent of the 2023 season.

Tennessee Volunteers

• Saturday, Sept. 2 – 12:00 PM ET (ABC)
• Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN (synthetic turf that incorporates organic infill)
• 2022 Record: 11-2
• Coach: Josh Heupel, 3rd season
• Last Meeting: 1991 USF&G Sugar Bowl – UT won 23-22
• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl – Beat Clemson 31-14
• Key Returning Players: QB Joe Milton III, RB Jaylen Wright, RB Jabari Small, WR Bru McCoy, C Cooper Mays, OG Javontez Spraggins, LB Aaron Beasley, DB Jaylen McCollough, DB Tamarian McDonald

What To Expect On Virginia Game Day

What’s To Like: Practically everything about the offense. Tennessee had the No. 1 total offense in 2022, averaging 525.5 YPG and 46.1 PPG. There are two big factors behind this success: valuing the football and red zone efficiency. The Vols offense only committed 11 total turnovers across its 13 games. What is even crazier about this stat is only three of those turnovers were interceptions. If an offense is hoping to have success, staying on the field and not turning the ball over are essentials. The 11 total turnovers were tied for 9th best in the nation in 2022.

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