CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University's football team will return to Rocky Top as part of its 2023 schedule, the athletics department announced Wednesday.

Austin Peay and Tennessee are scheduled to play a Sept. 9, 2023 game at fabled Neyland Stadium. It will be only the second meeting on the football gridiron between the two in-state universities. The Governors and Volunteers first met in the 2013 season opener in Knoxville.

"Our football student athletes, coaches and Governors Fans everywhere could not be more excited about our chance to play the University of Tennessee," said Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. "Neyland Stadium is one of college football's legendary cathedrals and we look forward to the opportunity to "Fly the Gov" in Knoxville."

The 2023 contest against Tennessee adds to the Govs upcoming games against Division I Football Bowl Subdivision foes. Austin Peay has added Ole Miss (2021), Alabama (2022), Georgia Tech (2024) and Georgia (2025) to bolster its future schedules. This fall, Austin Peay faced two FBS opponents during the fall – Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Austin Peay, under the guidance of head football coach Scotty Walden, opens its spring 2021 Ohio Valley Conference schedule in 25 days when it travels to Tennessee Tech for a Feb. 21 contest.