Here is the 2026-27 Tennessee Volunteers basketball schedule. Rick Barnes enters his 12th season leading Tennessee with a heavyweight non-conference slate: Michigan State and Florida State at home, a road trip to Purdue, and the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas opening against Maryland, before an 18-game SEC run that opens and closes against in-state rival Vanderbilt. Below is every game with the location, plus a free printable schedule.
Last updated October 7, 2026: tip times and TV are now set after the SEC released its full 2026-27 schedule. A few national windows (ESPN or ESPN2) remain tentative; exhibitions and tournament games are still TBA.
>Quick Facts: 2026-27 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball
- Tennessee hosts Michigan State on November 17 and Florida State on December 1.
- The Players Era Championship in Las Vegas opens November 24 against Maryland.
- The Vols visit Purdue on December 11.
- SEC play opens January 2 against Vanderbilt and closes March 6 at Vanderbilt.
- The SEC Tournament is March 10 to 14 in Nashville. Tip times and TV are set closer to game day.
2026-27 Tennessee Season Outlook
Rick Barnes keeps Tennessee among the national elite, and the 2026-27 non-conference slate reflects it. The Vols host Michigan State and Florida State, travel to Purdue, and play the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas. In SEC play, Tennessee draws home-and-home series with Missouri and Kentucky, and both the opener and finale come against in-state rival Vanderbilt.
Tennessee Volunteers 2026-27 Full Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Type | Time (ET) & TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3 | vs Wofford | Non-conf | 6:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Nov 9 | vs Radford | Non-conf | 7:00 PM |
| Nov 13 | vs Tennessee State | Non-conf | 7:00 PM |
| Nov 17 | vs Michigan State | Non-conf | 9:00 PM, ESPN2 |
| Nov 20 | vs Coastal Carolina | Non-conf | 7:00 PM |
| Nov 24 | vs Maryland (N) | Non-conf | 3:00 PM, ESPN |
| Nov 26 | Players Era | Non-conf | TBA |
| Nov 27 | Players Era | Non-conf | TBA |
| Dec 1 | vs Florida State | Non-conf | 7:00 PM, ESPN2 |
| Dec 6 | vs NC State (N) | Non-conf | 7:00 PM, ESPN |
| Dec 11 | at Purdue | Non-conf | 8:00 PM, Fox |
| Dec 16 | vs Morehead State | Non-conf | 8:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Dec 20 | vs Marist | Non-conf | 4:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Dec 29 | vs Norfolk State | Non-conf | 7:00 PM |
| Jan 2 | vs Vanderbilt | SEC | 2:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Jan 6 | at Auburn | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN2/ESPNU |
| Jan 9 | at LSU | SEC | 8:30 PM, SEC Network |
| Jan 13 | vs Missouri | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN2/ESPNU |
| Jan 16 | vs Arkansas | SEC | 12:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Jan 23 | at Kentucky | SEC | 2:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU |
| Jan 26 | at Texas A&M | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Jan 30 | vs Florida | SEC | 8:30 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Feb 3 | vs Georgia | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN2 |
| Feb 6 | at Missouri | SEC | 1:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Feb 10 | at Oklahoma | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN2/ESPNU |
| Feb 13 | vs Kentucky | SEC | 4:00 PM, ESPN |
| Feb 17 | at Ole Miss | SEC | 7:00 PM, ESPN2/ESPNU |
| Feb 20 | vs Alabama | SEC | 2:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Feb 23 | vs South Carolina | SEC | 7:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Feb 27 | at Texas | SEC | 6:30 PM, ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Mar 2 | vs Mississippi State | SEC | 6:00 PM, SEC Network |
| Mar 6 | at Vanderbilt | SEC | 2:00 PM, ESPN/ESPNU |
| Mar 10-14 | SEC Tournament | Non-conf | TBA |
Some midweek SEC games could shift by a day, and tip times and TV networks are announced closer to each date. This page and the printable are updated as they are released.
How to Watch and Key Games
Most Tennessee games air across the ESPN family of networks and the SEC Network, with windows announced week to week. Circle a few now: Michigan State at home on November 17, the Players Era Championship over Thanksgiving, and the finale at Vanderbilt on March 6. For the full league picture, see our 2026-27 SEC basketball schedule for all 16 teams.
2026-27 Tennessee Basketball FAQ
When does Tennessee open the 2026-27 season?
Tennessee opens the season November 3 at home against Wofford.
When does SEC play start and end?
SEC play opens Jan 2 vs Vanderbilt and closes Mar 6 at Vanderbilt, followed by the SEC Tournament in Nashville from March 10 to 14.
Are tip times and TV set yet?
Not for most games. The dates and opponents are confirmed, but tip times and TV networks are announced closer to game day.
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