Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White has expressed his disappointment and frustration after Nebraska backed out of a scheduled home-and-home college football series. The two teams were set to play each other in 2026 and 2027, but Nebraska’s decision has left Tennessee scrambling to find a replacement.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Nebraska cancelled the series in order to play eight home games in 2027. As a result, the Cornhuskers will pay Tennessee a $1 million buyout, which is $500,000 for each gam
White made it clear that the decision to cancel the series was not Tennessee’s, and he’s not happy about it. He stated that the cancellation is a “huge bummer” for fans, who were looking forward to seeing two big-name programs play each other on their home fields.
This is not the first time a college football series has been cancelled. Schools often schedule non-conference games years in advance, and as the games get closer, they may not make sense anymore. Sometimes, it’s a mutual decision, but in this case, it was Nebraska’s decision to back out.
The cancellation is a disappointment for college football fans, who were excited to see Tennessee and Nebraska play each other. The series would have been a rare opportunity to see two big-name programs play each other on their home fields, rather than at a neutral site.
Tennessee now has to find a replacement for the cancelled series, which is a challenging task. Most other schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC have already booked their non-conference games, so the pickings are slim. White has almost 18 months to find a replacement, but it’s still a difficult task.
The cancellation of the series is also a financial blow to Tennessee. The team was set to earn $1 million from the two games, which is now gone. The buyout from Nebraska will help soften the blow, but it’s still a significant loss.
In conclusion, the cancellation of the Tennessee-Nebraska college football series is a disappointment for fans and a challenging task for Tennessee’s athletic director. The team will have to scramble to find a replacement, and the financial loss will be significant.
