Georgia Tech will play Jacksonville State in 2017, a game at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the second week of the season. The Sept. 9 game will follow Tech’s first-ever appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in the first week of the season.
The Yellow Jackets could well be playing one of the most competitive teams in FCS that season. Jacksonville State was a No. 3 seed in last year’s FCS playoffs and finished 10-2. It was the second consecutive postseason berth for the Gamecocks, who started this season No. 9 in the FCS coaches poll. Jacksonville State is often fortified by transfers from FBS schools. One of the Gamecocks’ quarterbacks this season, for instance, is Christian LeMay, formerly of Georgia.
Tech will also be playing Jacksonville State on short rest, as the game against Tennessee in the Falcons’ new stadium will be on a Monday night (Sept. 4). Tech last ventured a Monday-Saturday turnaround in 2012, when the Jackets lost to Virginia Tech in the season opener on Labor Day night in Blacksburg, Va., and then defeated Presbyterian the following Saturday.
The game completes Tech’s nonconference scheduling for 2017 – Tennessee, Jacksonville State, at Central Florida (Sept. 16) and Georgia (Nov. 25).
It is a one-game contract. Tech last played Jacksonville State in 2008 and 2009, the season openers in coach Paul Johnson’s first two seasons. Tech won 41-14 in 2008 and 37-17 in 2009.
Future non-conference games
2016 – Mercer (Sept. 10), Vanderbilt (Sept. 17), Georgia Southern (Nov. 19), at Georgia (Nov. 28)
2017 – Tennessee (Sept. 4), Jacksonville State (Sept. 9), Central Florida (Sept. 16), Georgia (Nov. 25)
2018 – Tulane (Sept. 8), at Georgia (Nov. 24)
2019 – at Tulane (Sept. 7), Notre Dame (Oct. 19), Georgia (Nov. 30)
2020 – Central Florida (Sept. 19), at Georgia (Nov. 28)
2021 – Kennesaw State (Sept. 4), South Florida (Sept. 11), Georgia Nov. 27), Notre Dame (TBA)
2022 – at South Florida (Sept. 10), Ole Miss (Sept. 17), at Georgia (Nov. 26)
2023 – at Ole Miss (Sept. 16), Georgia (Nov. 25)
2024 – at Georgia (Nov. 30), Notre Dame (TBA)
