Virginia Tech to open 2018 season on Labor Day Monday at Florida State

Hokies, Seminoles will renew rivalry in ESPN primetime contest

April 13, 2017

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN announced Thursday that Virginia Tech’s opening football game of the 2018 season will take place at Florida State on Labor Day, Sept. 3 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. ESPN will televise the contest to a national audience in primetime that night.

Since Tech joined the ACC in 2004, no two teams have claimed more ACC championships, with the Hokies and Seminoles each owning four conference crowns apiece. The Hokies own the longest active bowl streak recognized by the NCAA with 24 straight appearances and have won their past three bowl games.

In addition to opening the 2018 season at Florida State, the Hokies will play host to Notre Dame at Lane Stadium for the inaugural time, as the Fighting Irish make their initial appearance in Blacksburg on Oct. 6. ACC home opponents for Tech in 2018 include Virginia, Miami, Georgia Tech and Boston College. The Hokies also will travel to ACC foes Duke, North Carolina and Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech’s previously scheduled opening contest against William and Mary will move to Sept. 8, 2018.

The 2018 game will mark the first meeting between Virginia Tech and Florida State since 2012, and the first appearance by the Hokies in Tallahassee since 2008. The two squads have split their past four meetings, with Tech’s most recent victory coming by a 44-33 score in the 2010 ACC Championship Game. The Hokies also claimed a 40-21 win at Lane Stadium in 2007.

The game will match the Seminoles and Hokies for the first time on Labor Day Monday and will mark Tech’s fourth appearance in the Labor Day game. The Hokies most recently played host to Ohio State on Labor Day in 2015 – the most-watched ESPN Labor Day night game ever (10,585,000 viewers). Either Florida State or Virginia Tech have played in the top six most-watched ESPN Labor Day games.

Georgia Tech and Tennessee will face off this year on Labor Day Monday Night on Sept. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

– VT –

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