NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 2, 2026) – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events today announced Liberty Mutual Insurance as the title sponsor of the first-ever Music City Kickoff at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium this Labor Day weekend. The Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff will feature the Louisville Cardinals and Ole Miss Rebels in an ACC-SEC showdown on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST, broadcast nationally on ABC.
“Last winter’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl was a tremendous success – from the fans it brought to the city of Nashville to the impact on the local economy,” said Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual Chief Marketing Officer, US Retail Markets. “We're proud to build on that momentum with the inaugural Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff this fall, and we can't wait to start the college football season off with a prime-time SEC-ACC showdown in Nashville.”
Liberty Mutual most recently signed as the title sponsor of the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in December 2025, which generated more than $38.2 million in total economic impact across Nashville, and has officially renewed its title sponsorship for 2026.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Liberty Mutual to launch the inaugural Music City Kickoff,” said Scott Ramsey, president and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “With the success of last year’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl, we’re grateful to their team for the continued partnership that helps strengthen the presence of college football and elevate the fan experience in Nashville.”
The Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff will serve as a neutral-site season opener for both the Cardinals and Rebels, marking the second meeting between the programs. Fans will cheer on the Cardinals on both sides of the Cumberland River as the Louisville Cardinals women’s volleyball team faces the University of Texas Longhorns on the same day in the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena.
"We are excited to expand our presence in Nashville and host the inaugural Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff in collaboration with the Nashville Sports Council,” said Clint Overby, Vice President of ESPN Events. “Providing a national broadcast for this event allows us to share the energy of college football with fans nationwide, while continuing to invest in the Nashville community.”
Tickets for the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff will go on sale on April 8, 2026. The Rebels will be seated on the west side of the stadium as the home team, and the Cardinals will be seated on the east side as the away team. Additional event details will be released at a later date.
For ticket details and more information on the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff game, visit www.NashvilleSports.com/MusicCityKickoff.
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Contact
Emily Jimenez – REED, (678) 584-3421 or emily@reedpublicrelations.com
Danny Chi - ESPN, (213) 405-4400 or danny.c.chi@espn.com
About the Nashville Sports Council
The Nashville Sports Council, Inc. is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area companies and individual sports enthusiasts. Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events. The Nashville Sports Council has hosted hundreds of major sporting events that have produced more than $1.4 billion in direct economic impact for the region. For more information call 615-743-3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com. Follow the Nashville Sports Council on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule included three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premier regular-season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events accounted for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
Follow ESPN Events on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube pages.