Vols to play in Georgia Dome in 2012

North Carolina State and Tennessee, which have not met on the football field since 1939, will hook up in 2012 in the Georgia Dome.

The Wolfpack and Volunteers will play in that year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, Chick-fil-A Bowl officials announced Thursday. The game will take place Sept. 1, 2012.

The matchup continues the success of bowl and ESPN officials in matching teams from BCS conferences in season-opening games. Virginia Tech and Alabama will play Sept. 5 in the Dome. Last year, Alabama beat Clemson, a Crimson Tide victory that set the stage for its run to the SEC championship game.

The 2010 and 2011 games have not been set. Chick-Fil-A Bowl CEO Gary Stokan, said he has talked with Georgia and Georgia Tech about playing in the game, as well as most SEC and ACC schools, UCLA, USC, Texas, Michigan and Notre Dame.

“We’re fine to continue ACC vs. SEC, but in those years where it makes some sense, whether we can get somebody from the Big Ten or Big 12 or Pac-10, we also want to have the opportunity to have that matchup,” Stokan said. “Our goal is to have the best matchup for that first weekend in college football.”

Stokan said he didn’t think those two games would be finalized until after the college season begins in the fall.