One of the biggest games to open the college football season has been the Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta, and Georgia Tech may be getting ready to make its first appearance in the game in its own backyard. Georgia Tech and Tennessee are the rumored participants for the 2017 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, and an official announcement could be made in the coming weeks.
Georgia Tech athletics director Mike Bobinski told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week he is optimistic the Yellow Jackets will get the long-awaited opportunity to play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, just as soon as some of the scheduling details can be sorted with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. The 2017 edition of the game is expected to be played in the new stadium for the Falcons, and not the Georgia Dome.
“All signs are very good,” Bobinski said to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Like everything, I’ll feel better when I see it and we sign it, but I’ve got no indication other than it’s happening and we’re still good to go.”
The season-opening game was first played in 2008 between Alabama and Clemson. Each game has featured a school from the SEC or ACC, with many of the contests having representatives from each conference more often than not. Boise State has played in the game twice and West Virginia has been the lone Big 12 member to play in the game. The 2015 Chick-fil-A Kickoff will feature Louisville and Auburn. Next year’s game in 2016 will pair up Georgia and North Carolina. An ACC school has played in the game in all but three of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff games.