The 2026 Tennessee Football Schedule hands the Volunteers one of the most loaded home slates in the conference.
A road trip to Atlanta before September is even half over. No. 5 Texas visiting Neyland Stadium in prime time. Alabama, Kentucky and LSU all coming through Knoxville before the year is out. For Tennessee Volunteers football, the early tests and high-profile home dates will define the season long before the final road trip to Nashville.
Here is the complete 2026 Tennessee Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Tennessee Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Furman PaladinsNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30 PM ETSECN+ | ||
| Saturday | at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsBobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 7:00 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | Kennesaw State OwlsNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 7:45 PM ETSECN | ||
| Saturday | Texas LonghornsNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 12:00 PM ETABC or ESPN | ||
| Saturday | Auburn TigersNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Arkansas RazorbacksD.W.R. Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR | 3:30–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | Alabama Crimson TideNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at South Carolina GamecocksWilliams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–4:30 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Kentucky WildcatsNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 6:00–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Texas A&M AggiesKyle Field, College Station, TX | 3:30–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | LSU TigersNeyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Vanderbilt CommodoresFirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN | 6:00–8:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs SEC ChampionshipMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 4:00 PM ETABC | ||
An Early Road Trip, Then Texas Comes to Town
Tennessee opens the 2026 Tennessee Volunteers football schedule at home against Furman, but the softness does not last. A trip to Georgia Tech follows a week later, before Kennesaw State gives Knoxville a breather. Then Texas rolls into Neyland Stadium on September 26 for a noon kickoff that could be the biggest home date of the entire season. For Tennessee Volunteers football, that early ranked home test sets a high bar.
Auburn, Arkansas, and the Alabama Showdown
October opens with Auburn visiting Knoxville, followed by a road trip to Arkansas. The stretch peaks on October 17, when Tennessee vs Alabama 2026 brings Alabama to Neyland Stadium — as big a rivalry date as this program gets. A trip to South Carolina closes out the month before a timely bye week on Halloween. Surviving that portion of the Tennessee SEC schedule 2026 intact would put the Volunteers in strong position.
A Loaded Home Stretch to Close the Year
Kentucky visits for Homecoming on November 7, giving Tennessee a manageable date before the schedule turns difficult again. A road trip to Texas A&M follows, then LSU comes to Knoxville on November 21. The regular season wraps on the road at Vanderbilt on November 28, setting up whatever comes next in Atlanta. Those late home opportunities against Kentucky and LSU give Tennessee Football Schedule watchers two more high-visibility chances in front of the Neyland crowd.
The 2026 Tennessee Football Schedule challenges Tennessee Volunteers football from the opening weeks through the final regular-season road game. Seven home games at Neyland Stadium provide a powerful base, while the early trip to Georgia Tech, the Texas and Alabama home dates, and the late tests against Texas A&M and LSU will determine the ceiling. How the Volunteers respond to those high-stakes windows will shape the entire season narrative.
FAQ
When does Tennessee football play its first game in 2026?
Tennessee opens the 2026 Tennessee Football Schedule at home against Furman on Saturday, September 5, at Neyland Stadium.
When is Tennessee vs Alabama 2026?
Tennessee vs Alabama 2026 is set for Saturday, October 17, at home at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
How many home games does Tennessee play in 2026?
Tennessee has seven Tennessee football home games in 2026 at Neyland Stadium: Furman, Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU.
What is Tennessee’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The run from Texas (home) through Alabama (home), Texas A&M (road), and LSU (home) — September 26 through November 21 — is the toughest part of the Tennessee SEC schedule 2026.
