Louisville to play Georgia Tech in 2023 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game

Louisville athletics’ ever-expanding relationship with the city of Atlanta just got even stronger.

The U of L football team is already slated to open next season against Ole Miss in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Now, the Cards have also been signed up to take on Georgia Tech in the 2023 installment of the annual first week game.

Here’s a chunk of the release:

The University of Louisville and Georgia Tech will open ACC play in the 2023 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game set to be played Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 2023 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will be broadcast on either ESPN or ABC. The exact kick time will be released at a later date.

This will mark only the second time in the event’s history that two teams from the same conference will meet in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Clemson and Georgia Tech will be the first to open ACC play as part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Series weekend in 2022.

”Hosting teams from the ACC has been a long-standing tradition for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game,” said Bob Somers, Peach Bowl, Inc. chairman. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to host another ACC conference opener in our game in consecutive seasons.”

The 2023 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will represent only the third time Louisville and Georgia Tech have faced off on the gridiron. Georgia Tech currently holds a 2-0 advantage over Louisville all-time, including a 46-27 win over the Cardinals this past season.

”Louisville with Coach Satterfield and Georgia Tech with Coach Collins are two teams on the rise in the ACC and with their successful recruiting classes, they should be competing for divisional championships in 2023,” Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan said. “We’re looking forward to another compelling matchup when the two programs meet to open the season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.”

Louisville will be making its third appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Cardinals fell 31-24 to Auburn in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and are also scheduled to open the season in Atlanta against the Ole Miss Rebels in one of the two 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game matchups.

”This is another tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes to experience playing in one of the premiere football facilities in the country,” said Vince Tyra, Louisville director of athletics. “Our fans will be equally excited about returning to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to open ACC action in 2023 after opening up our 2021 season with Mississippi in the same facility.”

”Having an opportunity to play in this iconic game for the second time in three seasons is exciting for our student-athletes and fans,” Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield said. ”We are thrilled to be opening our ACC schedule against Georgia Tech in one of the premier football facilities in the nation. It’s a short trip for our fans and I know they will make their presence felt.”

If we lose this year’s opener against Ole Miss, I think we need to demand that the Georgia Dome be rebuilt for the 2023 game against Tech. Luke Hancock will handle the coin toss.