Virginia Tech-Alabama opener will start at 5:30 p.m.
The 2013 football season is still nearly six months away, but Hokies fans can now plan their day accordingly.
ESPN announced that Virginia Tech and Alabama will kick off at 5:30 p.m. in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome on Aug. 31.
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The Chick-fil-A Kickoff is usually a primetime matchup, although this year’s start time was set to avoid conflict with the night’s other two marquee games. Georgia will play at Clemson at 8 p.m. on ABC and LSU and TCU will meet in Dallas at 9 p.m., a game televised by ESPN.
The ACC also announced that North Carolina and South Carolina’s game on Thursday, Aug. 29, will start at 6 p.m. and be televised by ESPN.
It’s the second time Tech and Alabama will meet in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. The Crimson Tide rallied in the fourth quarter to win 34-24 in 2009, jumpstarting its first national championship season under head coach Nick Saban.
Alabama has won three of the last four BCS national titles, including the last two. The Crimson Tide routed Notre Dame 42-14 in Miami in January. Virginia Tech finished last season 7-6.
This is the fourth time in six years the Hokies will open the season at a neutral site. They’ve lost the previous three. In addition to the Alabama loss in 2009, they fell 27-22 to East Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., in 2008, and 33-30 to Boise State in Landover, Md., in 2010.
Alabama has had three other neutral site openers since 2008, winning all three. The Crimson Tide beat Clemson 34-10 in Atlanta in 2008, and Michigan 41-14 in Dallas last season.
Here’s the ESPN/ABC lineup of ACC and SEC games the opening weekend:
| Thu, Aug 29 | 6 p.m. | North Carolina at South Carolina * | ESPN |
| 9:15 p.m. | Ole Miss at Vanderbilt | ESPN | |
| Sat, Aug 31 | 5:30 p.m. | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game: Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (Atlanta) | ESPN |
| 8 p.m. | Georgia at Clemson | ABC | |
| 9 p.m. | Cowboys Classic: TCU vs. LSU | ESPN |
March 5, 2013 - 10:28 AM
For the ACC, it’s put up or shut up!
I don’t know who your misinformed sources are,Andy, but Pepper Fairy has already told us numerous times that this game will not be played.
Re: your headline. This applies to everyone except for Pepper’s Ferry who thinks the game won’t actually be played. Thanks for keeping us posted Andy.
Oct 24? Kentucky at MSU? Not an opening weekend game methinks.
That was included in the table that ESPN put out in its press release. I coudln’t delete that part of it without screwing up the table formatting, so I kept it in there.
Actually, I just figured out a way to do it. Nevermind.
It says ” the night’s other two marquee games ” and that could be taken two ways.
Our game is one of three marquee games, or the other two games are the only two marquee games.
Either way, there is not much of a chance, and probably no chance, that we will win the game.
Let’s go Hokies !!!
2 chances of a VT win-Slim and none.
And the odds on slim have to be at least 25-1…….
Andy – any idea if we will see less open scrimmages this spring due to putting in the new offensive?
So much for getting on late, Frank used my thoughts about VT-ALA not being a marquee game. It should, however, be a good warm up for UGA-Clemson, the return of a great border rivalry. Here’s hoping the new O coaches can have the Hokies playing good enough that the D is not exhausted by halftime.
Hokies can absolutely win this game. I think Logan Thomas will have one of those years!
I agree with Charles, I think Tech can win this game going away, maybe 45-13. I also think Tech can beat Duke tonight.
I feel a snip in the air. Too bad his team is worse than ours.
I just hope Brent Mushmouth is not doing our game with ‘Bama. I don’t know that stats but it feels like we never win a game he calls. I hope for Tirico. I believe our record with him on the mike is pretty good.
Hey first game of the season, Alabama has a lot of new albeit talented players in critical positions and VT should be showing something different from our new offensive staff (although they’ve probably seen it all at Auburn). If you’ve got any chance at all against Alabama that’s it. We’ve beaten Alabama before and almost again in 2009 (although I don’t remember it being that close). A win is not likely but certainly more likely than beating Duke tonight of course.
As far as Duke I would be satisfied for a game close enough to make Coach K turn red in the face and whine as usual or his fans to rush the court. Still a close game is not likely
Was actually hoping to kick off at 8 so less people at home would see the end of a beatdown. We simply should have re-scheduled this game to allow the new offensive coaches a few years to clean up the dumpster fire they inherited.
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The only way this isn’t an LSU-type blowout is if Saban shows some respect for his elder counterpart.
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Go Hokies – National Champs in 2017 (Bucky Hodges r-Senior Year)!
38-35 at halftime! I’m declaring victory and going to bed!
Anyone know the background of why Quinn Blanding chose uva over VT? Answer should not begin with, “Well, back in 1942…”, or, “As I was the first to say three months ago on this blog…”, or “xxxxx sucks!”, etc.
Just facts please. Thanks!
Two Things We Need Bad For The Upcoming Season Of Course Running Game And O Line And Please Please Put The VT Back On The Helmet Instead Of The Cartoon Drawings Well That’s Three But Who Ever Came Up With Cartoon Helmets Should Have Gotten The Ax Also!!!!
5:30 p.m.!!!…………Are you kidding???……….I am not even a Va Tech fan, but, I would like to see Alabama take them out to the woodshed in “PRIMETIME”!!
It should have been a “7:30′ p.m. or “8:00″ p.m. game!!……
Shame on ESPN!
Clearly this is wrong. As Steve said, Peppers Ferry has repeatedly told us this game is not going to happen so someone get to Weaver and inform him what Mr. Ferry has decreed.
Please folks, if you are one of many here who continually dis VT’s schedule for being laden with “cream puffs”, could you do us a favor by not trying to have it both ways by saying stupid stuff like VT shouldn’t be playing this game, they’re out of their league etc. Remember ’09, VT had “no chance” yet led going into the 4th quarter, and it was a 3 point game with just over 6 1/2 mins. to play. And that was the year they went undefeated and won the NC. And that was the year Bama barely beat Tenn ( by 2 points at home) and VT turned around and smacked Tenn in the bowl game. And let’s face it, there is not one team in CFB that would not be an underdog going into this game. Not one, including any team in the SEC and any team from Ga.
Compare the matchup to the games that are on later re: the teams involved, and the likelihood of a competitive game. It’s pretty evident to see why we’re at 5:30 and not ‘prime time’.
#17 Mike, why did Quinn Blanding say he chose UVa? I’d have to guess he gave the reason, perhaps some folks just didn’t like the answer. Isn’t he the third player from his HS to play at UVa? Maybe there’s a level of comfort there that is higher than with VaTech. Just as we get several players from the same HS’s over the years that don’t go to UVa. Maybe he likes the pizza place in Cville better than Greeks in Bburg. Who knows? He’s a HS guy, it could be any reason. What was the answer you wanted?
#8 Bob H You forgot “fat chance”. By the way, ever notice how fat chance and slim chance means the same thing?
Last night….ouch again. One thing, I was distracted by cooking for a good portion of the game, but I noticed that Coach K wasn’t shown on camera as much as usual. Misperception on my part? Anyone else notice?
What’s the deal with Coach “K’s” rose RED cheeks!!…….
He is starting to look a little like either Santa Claus or Richard Nixon!!
Larry – Do you know how easy it would be for Alabama to shut down the triple option? It would be like UGA does every year except even worse cause it’s Bama
My prediction for the Alabame-Tech game = Logan Thomas and a Grimes-fired up o-line more than hold their own. We shall see whose draft stock is higher after, McCarron or Thomas. Don’t estimate the value of folks with reputations on the line – Beamer, Foster, Loeffler, Grimes, Thomas. I’m an optimist by nature, but I’m psyched for the game whenever it kicks off.
Should have read – underestimate.
“BARRY IN GLOUCESTER”!!
Are you on medication or just delirious??
Your post is so far out there beyond reality, that words do not describe!
Amazing!