Georgia Tech will face Tennessee in 2026 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Tech announced Friday.
Tech and Tennessee announced in April a two-game series starting in 2026 in Atlanta and including a trip to Knoxville for the Yellow Jackets in 2027. The 2026 matchup could have been moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but instead will be a true home game for Tech.
“I think it’s the right decision for our fan base, I think it’s the right thing as we continue to build a program,” Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think as we continue to build up the fan base, I think it’s critically important.
“Based on the fan feedback and where things are from a programmatic standpoint, I felt like this decision to bring this one home was the right one.”
In September, Alpert and Tech athletics posted a survey asking which 2026 schedule was most appealing: seven home games or six homes games with the Tennessee matchup moving to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and not included in season-ticket packages.
The results were a key factor in Tech’s decision to welcome the Volunteers to Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“You can’t always drive every decision based off what the fans say, but I value the fan feedback,” Alpert said. “They’re important to me and how we continue to build this thing. Over 75% of respondents chose the seven-game (home schedule), and also chose to want to pay a premium.”
Tech has a six-game contract with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and it was expected the Jackets would play one of its home games at the venue in 2026. But Alpert said the agreement allows for some flexibility and that Tech will host a game there another season. Tech beat North Carolina at Mercedes-Benz in 2021, lost to Clemson in 2022, lost to Louisville in 2023 and lost to Notre Dame in 2024.
The Jackets are scheduled to play Georgia in the venue Friday, Nov. 28.
Tech’s 2026 schedule now includes Colorado on Sept. 5, Tennessee on Sept. 12 and Mercer on Sept. 26. Boston College, Duke, Louisville and Wake Forest are all scheduled to visit Bobby Dodd Stadium at dates to be determined.
The all-in price for 2026 Georgia Tech football season tickets will now range from $300-$2,575 per seat, according to a release from the school. Alpert noted he and the department were up front about the change in pricing when issuing the survey in September.
“The pricing will go up for a seventh home game, which is natural. No matter what, we were gonna have a 3-5% increase on season ticket total even if we didn’t bring the Tennessee game in, and that covers just natural inflation expenses,” Alpert explained. “You’re not buying the Tennessee game as a separate (game), it will be all-in to your full renewal price for our season-ticket holders.”
Tech’s 2026 schedule also includes road games at Clemson, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Georgia (Nov. 28).
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