ATLANTA — Georgia Tech will be playing under the Friday night lights for one game this season, the school said Thursday.
The Yellow Jackets were originally scheduled to play the University of Central Florida on Saturday, Sept. 19. That game, Georgia Tech said in a release, is now being moved to the night before to slot into ESPN programming.
Typically, colleges avoid Friday night games in deference to high school football. The school said the team's coach, Geoff Collins, had consulted with local high schools coaches before giving the thumbs-up.
“We’re appreciative to ESPN for its desire to showcase Georgia Tech football and city of Atlanta in primetime,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said in a release. “Georgia Tech football under the lights and in the shadow of the Atlanta skyline is one of college football’s great settings, and we’re happy that our student-athletes and fans will have the opportunity to experience night games at Bobby Dodd Stadium twice in the first three weeks of the upcoming season."
Additionally, Tech said with ESPN cameras on scene, the Sept. 18 affair would now serve as their annual "whiteout" night. A time for the game has not been announced.
The Yellow Jackets open their season on Sept. 3 against Clemson, a game that will also be nationally televised.
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