The 2023 college football season is finally here, and to kick off the second year of the Tony Elliott Era, Virginia travels to Nashville to take on Tennessee in Nissan Stadium. It’s quite different from the 2022 season in which the Cavaliers hosted Richmond in week one. The Volunteers come off a strong season with hopes of reaching an SEC title game.

For Virginia, 2023 has a different set of expectations. Coach Elliott enters his second season with a program that was rocked by a tragedy less than a year ago. A shooting after a field trip took the lives of team members Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry last November. He’ll hope to win more ACC games and have his offense score some more points, but more importantly he’ll focus on restoring fun to football and continued healing for these young men.

A high energy week one game against Tennessee will surely be an exciting environment for that. There’s nothing quite like football on a Saturday in the South. As we inch closer to kickoff, let’s learn more about this week one contest. Also make sure to check out our summer schedule preview series article for this matchup.

Virginia Vs. Tennessee Essentials

• Game Time: Saturday, Sept. 2 – 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game Location: Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN (synthetic turf that incorporates organic infill)
• 2022 Virginia Record: 3-7
• 2022 Tennessee Record: 11-2
• Tennessee Coach: Josh Heupel, 3rd season
• Last Meeting: 1991 USF&G Sugar Bowl – UT won 23-22
• Series: Tennessee Leads 3-1

3 Virginia Players to Watch

James Jackson, 6’3”/236 pounds, junior linebacker

...