PROVO, Utah-Per a Monday announcement, Tennessee football has opted out of the season opening game in 2023 against BYU.

The game was slated to occur September 2, 2023 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Cougars vanquished the Volunteers 29-26 in 2019 at Neyland Stadium of Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White said playing a game against Virginia at Nashville, Tenn. this week “made sense for multiple reasons.”

White said this was because the game against the Cavaliers is more accessible for the Volunteers’ fan base.

Tennessee’s rivals.com fan site, volquest.com, reported the UT Knoxville athletic department will pay the BYU athletic department $2 million as part of the buy out process for this game.