Tennessee’s 2025 football season opener has a kickoff time and television designation.

The Vols will open the season in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Syracuse at Noon ET on ABC, according to Brett McMurphy.

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It will be the second time that Tennessee has opened its season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Vols beat Georgia Tech, 42-41 in double overtime in 2017.

The Vols have. last their season against Syracuse twice previously. Tennessee kick-started its 1998 national title campaign with Jeff Hall’s go-ahead field goal at time expired to win, 34-33 at the Carrier Dome.

The Vols last played the Orange in 2001, winning 33-9 at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee is coming off of its first-ever College Football Playoff run after going 10-3 in 2024.

The Vols are playing an ACC team in a natural-site game for the third-straight season. Tennessee beat Virginia in its 2023 opener in Nashville and defeated NC State in Charlotte last season.

Syracuse finished 10-3 in head coach Fran Brown’s first season and were ranked in the final Associated Press Top 25 last season.

The Vols will play East Tennessee State in its home opener on Sept. 6 at Neyland Stadium.

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