Game day returns to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus on Saturday, Sept. 13, as the Volunteers face off against the University of Georgia for the Southeastern Conference opener. This will be the earliest in the season the two have met since Tennessee’s 30–27 home victory on Sept. 9, 1995.
In addition to the football game, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will broadcast live from the Ayres Hall lawn for the first time since 2022, marking the 12th time the show has originated from Rocky Top and UT’s 28th all-time appearance. The show will air from 9 a.m. to noon on ESPN. “The Pat McAfee Show” will broadcast live on ESPN from inside Neyland Stadium on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. Friday’s show is closed to the public.
Kickoff in Neyland Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m., with gates to open at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
Fans can listen to Tennessee Athletics’ official radio broadcast on the Vol Network of 70 stations across Tennessee and the Southeast (locally, WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1), SiriusXM and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 84), and the Varsity app.
Tennessee’s official Spanish radio broadcast is available locally on WNML-AM 990. A live audio stream of the broadcasts in both English and Spanish will also be available on the UT Sports website and the Tennessee Athletics app.
Fans are encouraged to visit the UT Sports website for the latest game day information.
Checker Neyland
Tennessee Athletics designated this weekend’s matchup as the annual Checker Neyland game, presented by Pilot. The popular fan-driven initiative showcases UT’s iconic checkerboard pattern in the stands of Neyland Stadium.
Fans are encouraged to wear orange or white and can visit CheckerNeyland.com and enter their section, row and seat number as it appears on their digital ticket to see their assigned color.
Game day activities
Saturday’s game will serve as the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute for legendary defensive tackle John Henderson, who played for the Vols from 1998 to 2001. Henderson, a two-time first-team All-American and 2000 Outland Trophy winner, will be officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the 67th National Football Foundation annual awards dinner Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
Located outside Gate 9, Truly’s Tailgate will open at 11:30 a.m. Fans can enjoy food from Texas Roadhouse, Scoops Ice Cream Shop, Good Ol’ Chicken Shack, Mac’nMore, Petro’s Chili and Chips, Calhoun’s, the General’s Grill and more.
Volunteer Village, presented by Toyota, will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Humanities Plaza. Fans with or without a game ticket can enjoy live music, food trucks, games and activities before kickoff.
The Vol Walk — the football team’s walk to Neyland Stadium — will begin at 1:25 p.m. at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park. From there it will move down Peyton Manning Pass before turning left on Phillip Fulmer Way and into the stadium.
This season, the Pride of the Southland Band will return to a historic route on its march to Neyland Stadium. Starting at 2 p.m. from the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, the band will proceed down Volunteer Boulevard, pass Torchbearer Plaza and continue along Peyton Manning Pass before entering the stadium.
Weather permitting, a pregame flyover will feature two F-18s out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, WA.
Gate information
Gates will open for all fans at 1:30 p.m. Students will enter the stadium at the southeast corner at Gate 4. Gates 5, 6, 7 and 8 are not operational this season.
Gate 21 is the designated ADA support entry point, and accessible elevators are located at Gates 15, 21 and 26. Medical bags can be checked at all gates.
Digital tickets and parking passes
Game tickets and parking passes will be digital only and must be accessed on a mobile device. Parking passes will now display a moving barcode instead of a QR code. Screenshots will not be accepted for entry into parking lots or the game.
Those who need assistance with their digital tickets can visit the ticket office locations at Gates 21 and 23.
To prepare for game day, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play. Additional information is available on the UT Athletics digital ticketing guide.
Stadium upgrades and enhancements
Beginning this fall, Neyland Stadium is a cashless venue. This applies to all retail locations inside the stadium, including concession stands and the Vol Shop.
Fans visiting the south concourse will find an expanded Gate 9 entrance, a significantly wider concourse, new and larger restrooms, and a UT Medical first aid station.
More information about the Neyland Stadium renovation project in partnership with Pilot is available on the UT Sports website.
Campus traffic and parking changes
Tennessee Athletics and the UT Police Department have announced game day parking and traffic updates for the 2025 season. Detailed parking information is available on the Tennessee football parking map.
Starting at 5 a.m., Peyton Manning Pass and Phillip Fulmer Way from Cumberland Avenue to Lake Loudoun Boulevard will be closed to all vehicle traffic.
Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. Shuttles for season ticket parking permit holders will begin running three hours before kickoff, at 12:30 p.m.
Fans with a parking permit for Lot 9 or Middle Drive can turn onto Phillip Fulmer Way from Cumberland Avenue. Cars will not be able to enter Lot 9 from Peyton Manning Pass. Parking for the G10 Garage is accessible only from Neyland Drive. Fans with a parking permit for Lot 30 can enter as usual from Volunteer Boulevard via Peyton Manning Pass. After the game, vehicles can exit from Lots 9 and 30 via Peyton Manning Pass.
Limited paid public parking will be available on campus along Volunteer Boulevard West between Todd Helton Drive and Cumberland Avenue. These ParkMobile spaces will cost $60.
Free accessible parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus. A valid accessible parking placard or license plate is required. An accessible shuttle will drop fans off at the Student Union loading dock beginning three hours before kickoff and will run for one hour after the game.
Rideshares will drop off and pick up along the northbound side of Volunteer Boulevard near the Claxton Education Building.
Downtown parking and shuttles
Public parking ranging from $3 to $60 will be available in downtown Knoxville garages and lots. Metered spots will cost $40.
Knoxville Area Transit has three regular Saturday routes that take fans to Cumberland Avenue. A day pass costs $2. KAT will also offer three game day shuttles originating from the Civic Coliseum, Market Square/Krutch Park and the Old City. The shuttles will begin three hours before kickoff and cost $10 per round trip. Additional parking fees may apply. The Old City shuttle is operational only for SEC games.
Day passes and shuttle tickets will be available for purchase through KAT’s Transit app. After purchasing shuttle tickets, do not activate them until just before boarding the shuttle.
Shuttles from the UT Institute of Agriculture campus and off campus locations will drop off on Volunteer Boulevard at the Stokely Garage (G16).
Game day safety measures
- Drones and unmanned aircraft systems are prohibited on university property beginning four hours before the scheduled kickoff time of a football game, during the game, and for two hours after the conclusion of the game.
- Fans can bring one unopened factory-sealed clear water bottle and one empty clear water bottle per person.
- As required by the SEC, fans are allowed to bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bag into the stadium. They also will be allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. No other bags will be allowed inside the stadium.
- All items are subject to search at gates.
- The clear bag policy has more information.
- Fans can report suspicious activity by texting 865-974-9898 with their seat location (concourse, section, row, seat number) and issue.
- Smoking is prohibited at UT, including within private vehicles parked or operated on university property. The prohibition extends to any lighted tobacco, electronic cigarettes and other vape devices.
- Anyone attempting to enter the stadium with alcohol will be denied entry.
The same policies apply to fans sitting in the student section of the stadium.
Other prohibited items
- Artificial noisemakers
- Open umbrellas
- Outside food, snacks and beverages (unless medically necessary)
- Radios without headphones
- Video cameras, professional cameras and cameras with detachable lenses
- Stadium seats with arms or side pockets
- Selfie sticks
- Weapons of any kind, including pocketknives
- Strollers
- Signs larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches
No items can be stored or left at the gates. Fans can bring the following items inside the stadium, subject to search:
- Cushions or seats without arms or side pockets
- Small cameras, binoculars and mobile phones
- Small bags with medically necessary items (Note: Diapers and non-medically necessary items for babies and young children, including snacks, must be carried in a clear bag.)
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, mpalme19@utk.edu)
Bill Martin (865-974-4167, billmartin@tennessee.edu)