Tennessee is officially looking for a new season-opening opponent for the 2015 season.
UAB has confirmed that it is shutting its football program down and will not be able to fulfill its season-opening matchup against the Vols in Nashville on Sept. 5, 2015.
By contract, the Blazers will owe Tennessee a buyout payment of $925,000 for not being able to compete in that event.
“We are working with the SEC and Scott Ramsey in Nashville to secure a replacement for UAB to open our season in 2015,” Tennessee athletics director Dave Hart said in a statement. “When we have a formal resolution, we will make an announcement.”
The Vols will need to find an FBS-level opponent to fill the spot because FCS-level Western Carolina is already on the schedule and Tennessee would not be permitted to face two FCS-level schools in one season. Tennessee will certainly use the money from the UAB buyout to entice a new opponent in a game that will presumably remain in Nashville on the same date.
