Tennessee Vols' opening matchup against Syracuse will be in a big shadow for something beyond the school's control

Tennessee’s matchup with Syracuse is one that is of relative interest on a national scale, as it’s a clash between two Power Four teams and one of those being the 2024 CFP participant and suddenly Nico-Iamaleava-less Vols. One might have thought that game could have drawn a time slot with more eyeballs.

However, the slate for August 30 has a few games with a higher profile that are taking precedent. Alabama makes a rare road trip to Tallahassee to take on Florida State in a battle between two of the biggest names in the sport. Also, it’s a battle of Tigers and Death Valleys when LSU plays Clemson in upstate South Carolina, which rightfully got the nod as the night game for the day.

Additionally, Texas is taking on Ohio State in Columbus that Saturday, and it’s already been revealed that it will be a noon kickoff on FOX. That means the Vols’ game against Syracuse will be greatly overshadowed by one of the biggest games of the early college football season.

The Vols and Orange have faced off three times in their history, and Tennessee fans remember one of those matchups very vividly and fondly. Jeff Hall booted through a field goal as time expired in the Carrier Dome to give Tennessee a season-opening 34-33 win in 1998. You all know what happened the rest of the season. The Vols also defeated the Cuse 18-12 in 1966 and 33-9 to open the 2001 season.