On September 5, 2023, the Tennessee Volunteers opened their season with a 56-9 victory over Furman at Neyland Stadium, a game that set a record for the second-highest kickoff temperature ever recorded at the venue, tying the 90°F mark.
A scorching start to the season
The 90°F kickoff temperature was matched by only one other game in stadium history, the 91°F showdown against Florida in 2016, and was also reached in prior openers against ETSU in 2018, Southern Miss in 2007 and Wyoming in 1999, marking the fifth occasion the Volunteers have faced a 90-degree start.
Beyond the sweltering conditions, the crowd numbered 101,915, keeping alive the 28-game sellout streak that began on September 17, 2022, and demonstrating the enduring demand for Volunteers football in Knoxville.
The win also added to Tennessee’s all-time season-opener record, now 98-26-6, and extended the perfect 6-0 mark under head coach Josh Heupel since his arrival in 2021, underscoring a rapid rise in program momentum.
As the Volunteers look ahead, the combination of high temperatures, packed stands and a strong opening performance sets an energetic tone for the remainder of the 2023 schedule and beyond.