UT picked for marquee matchup in 2012 football opener

The University of Tennessee will face North Carolina State in the 2012 college football opener at the Georgia Dome, it was announced Thursday by officials of the Chick-fil-A Bowl and ESPN.

The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will take place Sept. 1, 2012 and most likely will be broadcast live by ESPN.

Tickets will be split evenly between the schools.

“We are excited to be a part of what should be a great environment to kick off the 2012 season,” UT coach Lane Kiffin said in a release. “Atlanta is a great sports town and the Georgia Dome has been great for college football. SEC versus ACC match-ups are always intense, and we know Tennessee fans will be there in force to see this one.”

It will be the third meeting all-time between the schools, who first played each other in 1939. They have split the previous two matchups.

Alabama will play Virginia Tech in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Sept. 5.

The Crimson Tide defeated 34-10 before a sellout crowd in last season’s contest.