KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's season opener with Appalachian State has been moved to a Thursday night kickoff on Sept. 1.

The game originally had been scheduled to take place on Sept. 3, the first Saturday of the upcoming season. Tennessee announced Friday the game has moved to Sept. 1 and will air on SEC Network.

In a statement announcing the move, Volunteers athletic director Dave Hart said moving the opener up two days would help with "logistical considerations" as Tennessee prepares to face Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 10.

Tennessee hasn't played a Thursday night regular-season game since beating Ole Miss 41-3 in Memphis in 1996. Tennessee last played a Thursday regular-season opener in 1991 when the Vols won 28-11 at Louisville.