‘I don't have any corny slogans' – Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key gets asked about playing in Tennessee in second week of season
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The Tennessee Volunteers will play Georgia Tech on the road in the second week of the 2026 college football season.
After opening the season against Furman in Week 1, the Tennessee Vols will travel to Atlanta for a matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second week of the 2026 college football season.
It’ll be the first matchup between the two programs since 2017 when the Vols won 42-41 in double overtime.
Georgia Tech is typically a tough matchup under head coach Brent Key, who is entering his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets.
However, after a 9-4 season in 2025, most expect Georgia Tech to take a step back this fall — though you never actually know how a team will look from year to year in the transfer portal era (Georgia Tech added some key transfers like quarterback Alberto Mendoza and former Michigan and Alabama running back Justice Haynes).
With the Vols facing a nine-game SEC schedule, the Georgia Tech game is a must-win if the program is going to have any hope of getting into the College Football Playoff conversation.
But it won’t be easy — a road game at night in Atlanta with either a true freshman or a redshirt freshman under center will be a tall task for Tennessee.
Brent Key gets asked about facing Tennessee in the second week of the season
Key was asked at ACC Media Days this week about facing Colorado and Tennessee in the first two weeks of the season (Georgia Tech opens against Colorado).
The former Alabama offensive line coach made it clear that his program isn’t viewing the games against Colorado and Tennessee any different than they view the rest of the schedule.
“I mean, it’s no different than if we opened up with anybody in the [ACC],” said Key. “Our mindset and focus doesn’t change. I don’t have any corny slogans or sayings or anything like that to [give to] the team. I’m sorry, I didn’t bring that with me today.
“But we’re going to show up every day and work our tails off so we can line up and go out and play the type of football that I envision us playing. That’s regardless of who the opponent is. But I think I said it last year — we’ll line up and play anybody at any time. We’re very excited about being able to play those opponents.”
Tennessee and Georgia Tech will kick off at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN on September 12.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: ‘I don't have any corny slogans' – Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key gets asked about playing in Tennessee in second week of season
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