Tennessee is walking into its first real measuring-stick game of the season, and Georgia Tech is the team waiting to see what the Vols look like away from the comfort of a season-opening blowout.
The 18th-ranked Vols head to Atlanta on Saturday night for their only non-conference game against a Power Four opponent, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium. ESPN will carry the game nationally. Tennessee comes in at 1-0 after a 56-9 win over Furman, while Georgia Tech is 0-1 after dropping a 14-13 decision at home to Colorado.
The matchup also carries a little history. Tennessee owns a 25-17-2 edge in the all-time series, and the Vols took the most recent meeting in dramatic fashion, outlasting the Yellow Jackets 42-41 in two overtimes on Sept. 4, 2017, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Georgia Tech was also a charter member of the SEC before leaving the conference in 1964.
Before Saturday arrives, there’s plenty of curiosity around what Georgia Tech actually looks like after one game. GoVols247 spoke with Rod Mackenzie of GoJackets.com, 247Sports’ Georgia Tech site, for a read on what Tennessee should expect, what stood out in last week’s opener and where the Yellow Jackets could create problems for the Vols.
According to Mackenzie, Georgia Tech is eager “to get back on the field,” and Saturday’s game should give a much clearer picture of where the Yellow Jackets stand after their narrow loss to Colorado.
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For Tennessee, the encouraging part is the relationship he has already built with coach Kelsey Pope, plus a planned game-day visit that should give the Vols another chance to make a strong impression. Porter has said he wants to have a commitment or at least a shorter list by the end of his junior year, so the next stretch of visits and evaluations could go a long way in deciding whether Tennessee can keep one of its top local priorities close to home. [Read more 🡒]