Nebraska-Tennessee football series off as NU plans Memorial Stadium renovation

LINCOLN The much-anticipated Nebraska-Tennessee football home-and-home series planned for 2026 and 2027 is off the schedule and not likely to return.

The Huskers will instead play an eighth home game for the 2027 season when they were scheduled to play in Knoxville to make up for any revenue lost by the absence of more than 15,000 seats in Memorial Stadium that are demolished as part of planned major renovation of the stadium.

We are making plans to embark on major renovations of Memorial Stadium that may impact our seating capacity for the 2027 season, Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen said in a statement.

The best scenario for us is to have eight home games in 2027 to offset any potential revenue loss from a reduced capacity.

The additional home games will also have a tremendous economic benefit on the Lincoln community.

Because of the potential loss of money a decrease of millions in an era when athletic departments are sharing revenue with student-athletes Nebraska had asked the Volunteers to move back the series to a time when back-to-back games were easier to achieve.

I didnt like the model of seven (home games) down 20%, Dannen said during an interview in early February, when the ball was still in Tennessees court to decide what would happen.

UTs athletic department ultimately declined to do so.

I get it, totally, Dannen said in early February of Tennessees disinclination to move the series.

The Vols play West Virginia at a neutral site in 2028, then have a home-and-home series with Washington in 2029 and 2030.

Nebraska will instead play Bowling Green on Sept.

12, 2026 and Miami (Ohio) on Sept.

11, 2027.

The Huskers added a game against Northern Iowa on Sept.

18, 2027 to complete its nonconference slate for 2027.

Currently in 2026, the Huskers also host Ohio and North Dakota in nonconference games and Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State and Washington in Big Ten games.

In 2027, Nebraska currently has a contract to host Northern Illinois in nonconference play, plus Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue and Rutgers in Big Ten play.

NU last played eight home games in 2013, when the Big Ten had just eight league games and all four of the Huskers nonconference games Wyoming, Southern Mississippi, UCLA and South Dakota State were played in Memorial Stadium.

Several other Big Ten teams, in recent years, have played eight home games.

Indiana did so in 2024.

Michigan did the same in 2022.

Both teams advanced to the College Football Playoff.

Nebraskas home-and-home series with Arizona in 2028 and 2031 and Oklahoma in 2029 and 2030 remains unchanged, Dannen said.

The Huskers and Volunteers originally agreed to a home-and-home series in 2006, when Steve Pederson, who had worked at both schools, was athletic director.

The plan was to play in 2016 and 2017, but Nebraska in 2013 agreed to move the series to 2026 and 2027 so Tennessee could play West Virginia in 2016 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where a record 156,990 fans watched the Volunteers beat the Mountaineers on the Speedway's infield.

Oregon replaced Tennessee on Nebraska's schedule.

Nebraska ended its 2016 season losing to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) celebrates with Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) after Haarber's touchdown during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Nebraska students cheer and release their balloons after Nebraska scores the first touchdown during the first half of a college football game against Rutgers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Nebraskas Heinrich Haarberg (10) goes up for a catch blocked by Purdues Will Heldt (15) during the first half of a college football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday, Sept.

28, 2024.

during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

Nebraska's Luke Lindenmeyer (44) reaches for a pass but falls short during the second half of a college football game against Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

Nebraska takes on Illinois in the first quarter of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

The game was the 400th sellout for Nebraska.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) passes the ball during the second half of a college football game against UTEP at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of a college football game against UTEP at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) catches on a 59-yard touchdown reception over UTEP's Jaylon Shelton (9) during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) scores on a 59-yard touchdown reception during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) celebrates a touchdown pass he threw to Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) leads the huddle during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Sept.

14, 2024.

UCLA's Oluwafemi Oladejo (2) hits Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) as throws a pass during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024.

Fans make their way up the walkways at Memorial Stadium prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Wisconsin Badgers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Fans wait for the start of the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Fans rush the field after Nebraska defeated Wisconsin in a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) turns upfield during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Fans rush the field after Nebraska defeated Wisconsin in a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov.

23, 2024.

Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) celebrate after Colorado's Alejandro Mata (16) missed the field goal attempt during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Sept.

7, 2024.

Memorial Stadium lit up red and a drone show displayed N before the fourth quarter of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Sept.

7, 2024.

Four T-38s flyover Memorial Stadium before a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Northern Iowa Panthers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Sept.

14, 2024.

Northern Iowa's Aidan Dunne (10) throws the ball as Nebraskas Nash Hutmacher (0) attempts to block during a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Northern Iowa Panthers in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept.

14, 2024.

A Nebraska fan records the light show during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

The Cornhuskers are preparing to battle Boston College in Saturdays Pinstripe Bowl in New York City.

Page B1 Nebraska's James Williams (90) celebrates a sack during a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) gets sacked by Iowas Amare Bickham (15) during the first half of a college football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Nov.

29, 2024.

Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher (0) celebrates after a safety made by Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) during the first half of a college football game against UTEP at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Aug.

31, 2024.

Nebraska's Marques Buford Jr.

(3) and Nebraska's John Bullock (5) celebrate after stopping Rutgers on a 4th down with two yards to the end zone during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Nebraska's Marques Buford Jr.

(3) and Nebraska's John Bullock (5) celebrate after stopping Rutgers on a 4th down with two yards to the end zone during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Nebraska fans watch during the second half of a college football game against Rutgers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) attempts to score a touchdown but comes up short during the second half of a college football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct.

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Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov.

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Connor Raastad, 12, plays the guitar he had players autograph for Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) during fan day at the Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln on Saturday, Aug.

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Nebraska's Tyler Knaak (75) lifts up Carter Nelson (29) after Nelson scored a touchdown against Northern Iowa during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Sept.

14, 2024.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball as he is tackled by Illinois' Daniel Brown (4) during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr.

(17) reaches out but misses a catch against Illinois' Matthew Bailey (7) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Friday, Sept.

20, 2024.

Balloons are released after Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) scored a touchdown against Rutgers during the first half of a college football game, Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska's Jimari Butler (10) runs towards Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct.

5, 2024.

Indiana's Mikail Kamara (6) sacks Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

on Saturday, Oct.

19, 2024.

Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) leaps into the end zone to score a touchdown against UCLA during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024.

Nebraska's Nate Boerkircher (87) makes a catch behind Iowa's Sebastian Castro (29) during the second half of a college football game, Friday, Nov.

29, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

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