Tennessee announces Checkerboard Neyland campaign for OU game

By foxsports
Published

As if the home opener for Tennessee could get any bigger, it officially just did. Butch Jones began his Wednesday press conference with some expected yet exciting news for fans of Big Orange Nation:

The Vols open the season on a neutral field in Nashville against Bowling Green Saturday and will have their home opener Sept. 12 against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma, where Tennessee hopes to avenge last season's 34-10 loss. 

The Checkerboard campaign has only been done once before, Oct. 4, 2014, against Florida in a 10-9 loss for the Vols. 

With yet another top-five recruiting class and the majority of the contributors returning from 2014's team, Tennessee is expected to finally have the team in place to at least contend for the SEC crown in 2015. While the game against Oklahoma won't have any bearing on league standings, it should prove an adequate measuring stick for a young Tennessee team attempting to turn the corner in the nation's toughest conference. 

If the Vols turn around and beat a Sooner team that beat them by 24 points only a season ago, expect confidence on Rocky Top to reach dangerous levels early in the season. This very well could be the game that sparks Tennessee to a complete turnaround under Jones. 

Not sure which color to wear for Saturday's game? Visit the Checker Neyland site for information based on your section number to determine whether you should wear orange or white to the game: