Vols to Play Bowling Green in 2015 Season Opener in Nashville

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Tennessee football team will open the 2015 season on Sept. 5 at Nashville’s LP Field against Bowling Green State University of the Mid-American Conference. Bowling Green replaces the original opponent for the Vols for next year’s season opener, UAB, who announced the discontinuation of their football program last week.

“We are pleased to announce that we have been able to maintain our plans to open the 2015 season in Nashville, now against Bowling Green,” said Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart.

Bowling Green is 7-6 in 2014 and played in this year’s MAC Championship Game last weekend. The 2015 meeting will represent the first-ever game between the Vols and Bowling Green. The last Tennessee opponent from the MAC was Akron on Sept. 22, 2012 at Neyland Stadium, a game the Vols won 47-26.

Tennessee’s most recent game at LP Field was in the 2010 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl against North Carolina. The Vols also played their season opener in 2002 against Wyoming at Nashville’s LP Field, defeating the Cowboys 47-7. Tennessee also ended the 2014 regular season in Nashville with a 24-17 win at Vanderbilt.