KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- It's still a little more than a decade away, but mark September 1st, 2018, on your calendar right now.

On that day the Vols will open their football season with a big battle against Ohio State University in Knoxville. It will be followed by a Sept. 7, 2019, game at Columbus.

“Tennessee-Ohio State is a great natural match-up for two tradition-laden schools that are less than 400 miles apart,” said Steve Snapp, OSU associate athletic director. “Playing the Volunteers for the first time during the regular season will be a great series for our fans.”

"We're looking forward to a series with another one of college football's storied programs," UT athletics director Mike Hamilton said. "I know our fans will enjoy going to the Horseshoe as much as their fans will enjoy coming to Neyland Stadium."

Ohio State and Tennessee have met only once previously in football, a 20-14 Volunteer victory in the Florida Citrus Bowl following the 1995 season.

This will be the Buckeyes’ first on-campus meeting with an SEC opponent since before World War II.

UT never has hosted a Big Ten Conference opponent and the only previous meeting against a league foe in the regular season was a 23-22 win over Iowa at the 1987 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Vols defeated Penn State in Knoxville in the 1971 and 1972 seasons, but the Nittany Lions did not become a Big Ten member school until 1993.

The Vols also beat Wisconsin on January in the Outback Bowl, in Tampa, Florida.