Virginia Football to Open 2020 Against Georgia

The Virginia football program may have found a marquee non-conference opponent for the 2020 season opener. Jason Butt, a reporter from the Georgia Telegraph, reports that the Hoos will face the Georgia Bulldogs Monday, September 7, 2020. The game is part of the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff events and will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Another Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is expected on Saturday, September 5, 2020. ESPN reported in late July that West Virginia and Florida State were in talks for the first game.

According to FBSchedules, this would be Virginia’s first appearance in a Chick-fil-A kickoff game, and the first meeting between the Cavaliers and Bulldogs since the 2000 Jeep Oahu Bowl. Virginia lost that game and split a pair of Peach Bowls against the Dawgs in Atlanta in 1995 and 1998.

Virginia now has two games scheduled for the 2020 season. The Hoos will travel to Norfolk on November 21, 2020 to take on Old Dominion already on the schedule. Here’s what we currently know about Virginia’s future non-conference schedule:

2017: William and Mary, Indiana, UConn, @ Boise State

2018: Richmond, @ Indiana, Ohio, Old Dominion

2019: @ Notre Dame

2020: Georgia (neutral site), VMI, @ Old Dominion

The Hoos host Central Michigan this weekend at Scott Stadium for their last non-conference game. Kickoff is at 12:30 as Virginia searches for its elusive first win under Bronco Mendenhall.

1/11/17 UPDATE

After much speculation, reports have been confirmed that UGA and UVa will indeed play on Labor Day, 2020. It appears UVa was the hold up as they had to move a game against VMI, per Marc Weiszer with Online Athens.

The game is reportedly on ESPN, and if recent years are any indication, it should be a primetime matchup with not much competition for viewers.

Virginia also released an official statement with Coach Mendenhall saying:

“Having the chance to open the college football season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is a fantastic opportunity for our program. . .Players love to compete on the largest stage and Atlanta is a great location for our fans to spend the Labor Day weekend. I cannot imagine a better setting to open the season than to face Georgia in what I’m told will be one the nation’s finest stadiums. The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has a reputation of being an amazing experience for both teams and we are appreciative of this invitation.”