A road trip to Atlanta before September’s even half over. No. 5 Texas visiting Neyland Stadium in prime time. And Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU all coming through Knoxville before the year is out. The 2026 Tennessee football schedule hands the Volunteers one of the most loaded home slates in the conference.
2026 Tennessee Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Furman Paladins | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30 PM | SECN+ |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Kennesaw State Owls | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 7:45 PM | SECN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Texas Longhorns | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 12:00 PM | ABC or ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Auburn Tigers | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Arkansas Razorbacks | D.W.R. Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Alabama Crimson Tide | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at South Carolina Gamecocks | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | 3:30–4:30 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Kentucky Wildcats (Homecoming) | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 6:00–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Texas A&M Aggies | Kyle Field, College Station, TX | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | LSU Tigers | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN | 3:30–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Vanderbilt Commodores | FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN | 6:00–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | SEC Championship | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 4:00 PM | ABC |
An Early Road Trip, Then Texas Comes to Town
Tennessee opens the 2026 Tennessee football schedule at home against Furman, but the softness doesn’t 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.
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.
A Loaded Home Stretch to Close the Year
Kentucky visits for Homecoming on November 7, giving Tennessee a manageable date before the Tennessee SEC schedule 2026 turns difficult again. A road trip to No. 10 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.
The Bottom Line
Between Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU, Tennessee faces four ranked opponents spread across a schedule that never fully lets up. The Tennessee football home games in 2026 include two of the biggest — Texas and Alabama — giving Neyland Stadium as much national attention as it’s had in years.
FAQ
Q: When does Tennessee football play its first game in 2026?
A: Tennessee opens the 2026 Tennessee football schedule at home against Furman on Saturday, September 5, at Neyland Stadium.
Q: When is Tennessee vs Alabama 2026?
A: Tennessee vs Alabama 2026 is set for Saturday, October 17, at home at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Q: How many home games does Tennessee play in 2026?
A: Tennessee has seven Tennessee football home games in 2026 at Neyland Stadium: Furman, Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU.
Q: What is Tennessee’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: 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.
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