JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2015) – The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Friday that the Buccaneers’ football program will play the University of Tennessee on Sept. 8, 2018. This will be the first ever meeting between the Buccaneers and Volunteers.

“This is an extremely exciting day for our program,” said ETSU head coach Carl Torbush. “I want to thank Tennessee AD Dave Hart and head football coach Butch Jones for their help and willingness to make this game a reality. For our new program, this is a game that can only help to build excitement for our fans, encourage prospective student-athletes to consider our program, and yet again show our community our continued commitment to building a successful football program at ETSU.”

Torbush said announcements regarding more future opponents will be coming, but announcing such an exciting opportunity as playing the Volunteers certainly topped the list.

“This is a first,” Torbush said. “Because it had never happened, we felt it was the first priority. We’re happy it worked for us and for our friends in Knoxville.”

The Buccaneers will earn a game guarantee of $500,000 for playing the Volunteers in Knoxville.

For more on ETSU football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football link.