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The 2026 Tennessee Volunteers football schedule is available here as a printable PDF, with all 12 regular season games for Josh Heupel’s sixth season as head coach in Knoxville. The Vols open with three home games before diving into a loaded SEC slate that features Texas, Auburn, and Alabama at Neyland Stadium. Game times and TV assignments are listed as TBD and will be updated once the SEC releases its broadcast schedule.
2026 Tennessee Volunteers Football
Josh Heupel enters his sixth season at Tennessee with the Vols firmly established as one of the SEC’s premier programs after back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. The 2026 schedule opens with a three-game home stand at Neyland Stadium before the Vols face a gauntlet of marquee matchups. The headliner arrives September 26 when Texas makes its first trip to Knoxville since 1969, a game that figures to be one of the most anticipated regular-season contests of the 2026 college football season.
October is the most demanding stretch on the schedule, with Auburn at home October 3, a road trip to Arkansas on October 10, and the annual Third Saturday in October against Alabama on October 17 followed by a trip to South Carolina on October 24. The bye week falls on Halloween, October 31, giving Heupel a week to prepare for the November stretch run. Tennessee closes the regular season on the road at Vanderbilt on November 28 before turning attention to bowl season.
For the latest roster moves, depth charts, and program updates, visit the Tennessee Volunteers Football official athletics site.
2026 Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | vs Furman Paladins | 3:30 PM | SECN+ |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | vs Kennesaw State Owls | 7:45 PM | SECN |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs Texas Longhorns | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | vs Auburn Tigers | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | @ Arkansas Razorbacks | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | vs Alabama Crimson Tide | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | @ South Carolina Gamecocks | TBD | TBD |
| Open Date – Bye Week (Sat, Oct 31) | ||||
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | vs Kentucky Wildcats | TBD | TBD |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | @ Texas A&M Aggies | TBD | TBD |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | vs LSU Tigers | TBD | TBD |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | @ Vanderbilt Commodores | TBD | TBD |
All times Eastern. TBD = kickoff/TV not yet announced. Updated May 27, 2026.
Game times and TV/streaming assignments are TBD. This page will be updated when the SEC releases the full 2026 broadcast schedule.
More 2026 College Football Resources
For schedules across every major conference and program this fall, visit our complete College Football Schedule hub, with printable PDFs and broadcast info for teams across the country.
Tennessee competes in the SEC, one of college football’s most competitive conferences. For the full slate of matchups across every SEC team this season, check out our complete SEC Football Schedule, with printable options and broadcast info updated throughout the year.
As bowl season and the College Football Playoff approach, bookmark our 2026-27 College Football Playoff page for bracket updates, game dates, locations, and results.
2026 Tennessee Volunteers Football FAQ
Who is Tennessee’s head football coach in 2026?
Josh Heupel is the head football coach at Tennessee in 2026, entering his sixth season with the Volunteers. Heupel has rebuilt Tennessee into a consistent SEC contender and College Football Playoff program, known for his up-tempo offensive system that has turned Neyland Stadium into one of college football’s most difficult road venues.
How many home games do the Tennessee Volunteers have in 2026?
The Tennessee Volunteers have seven home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville in 2026, hosting Furman, Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU. They play five road games: at Georgia Tech, at Arkansas, at South Carolina, at Texas A&M, and at Vanderbilt.
When is Tennessee’s bye week in 2026?
Tennessee’s bye week falls on October 31, 2026, between the road game at South Carolina (October 24) and a home game against Kentucky (November 7). The Halloween bye gives Heupel extra preparation time before the demanding November stretch run.
When will Tennessee’s game times and TV channels be announced?
Game times and TV channel assignments for the 2026 Tennessee football schedule are listed as TBD. The SEC typically announces kickoff times and broadcast information on a rolling basis, often 6 to 12 days before each game. This page will be updated as times and channels are confirmed.
When does Tennessee play Texas in 2026?
Tennessee hosts Texas on September 26, 2026, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. It marks Texas’s first trip to Knoxville since 1969, making it one of the most anticipated non-conference matchups of the season. The two SEC programs last met in the Cotton Bowl and now renew the rivalry in a regular season setting for the first time in over 50 years.
