BYU football adds two-game series with Tennessee for 2019, 2023


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PROVO — BYU’s 2019 football schedule got significantly more challenged Thursday.

The Cougars announced a home-and-home series with Tennessee, beginning Sept. 7, 2019, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. A return trip to Provo is currently planned for Sept. 1 or 2, 2023, at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

It will be the first-ever football meeting between the two schools.

“There’s something about those orange and white checkerboard end zones that shouts ‘tradition!’” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said in a statement. “When the opportunity to play a series with Tennessee presented itself, we didn’t blink. They’re a storied football program with a winning tradition, national championships, a classic stadium, incredible fans and hall of fame coaches. It will be a great experience to visit SEC country and play in Neyland Stadium, and later host Tennessee in Provo.”

The Volunteers, who are founding members of the Southeastern Conference, have won six national championships since adding football in 1891. One of the oldest schools in the nation, Tennessee boasts an overall record of 829-375-53.

Aside from the checkerboard end zone, Neyland Stadium is also known for its 102,455-seat capacity — the fourth-largest facility in the nation.

BYU is 3-4 all-time against schools from the SEC, dating back to a loss to Georgia in 1982. All three wins are against teams from the state of Mississippi. (The Cougars also have two wins against Texas A&M prior to the Aggies joining the conference).

BYU football 2019 season schedule

Date Opponent Location
Aug. 29 Utah Provo, UT
Sept. 7 Tennessee Knoxville, TN
Sept. 14 Southern California Provo, UT
Sept. 21 Washington Provo, UT
Sept. 28 Toledo Toledo, OH
Oct. 4 Utah State Logan, UT
Oct. 12 Washington State Pullman, Wash.
Oct. 19 Boise State Provo, UT
Oct. 26 Open N/A
Nov. 2 Open N/A
Nov. 9 Open N/A
Nov. 16 Idaho State Provo, UT
Nov. 23 Mass Foxborough, Mass.
Nov. 30 San Diego State San Diego, Calif.

Tennessee will be BYU’s second opponent of 2019, and its first road game. The Cougars host rival Utah on Aug. 29 before traveling to Knoxville, then return home for matchups against Southern California and Washington before ending September at Toledo.

The Cougars’ schedule also includes Utah State, Washington State, Boise State, UMass and San Diego State, and Idaho State, which was also announced Thursday.

BYU is contracted to play a member of the American Athletic Conference in the 2019 Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, assuming both sides are bowl-eligible/have sufficient bowl-eligible teams.

BYU has three open dates in 2019, consecutive weeks between Oct. 26 and Nov. 9.

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