Tennessee Volunteers have locked in a 2028 non‑conference matchup with Central Michigan, a game that will open the season at Neyland Stadium on September 9. The agreement includes a $1.3 million guarantee, underscoring the financial calculus behind scheduling buy games.
The commitment fills one of two remaining out‑of‑conference slots and fits into a broader schedule that stretches to 2030. In addition to the annual SEC rivalries with Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, the Volunteers will travel to Washington in 2030 as part of a home‑and‑home series, while the SEC slate remains anchored through 2029.
Strategic Out‑of‑Conference Planning
Beyond the marquee dates, the Volunteers’ calendar reveals a pattern of rotating opponents and locations. Home games in 2026 feature Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Texas, Furman and Kennesaw State, while road trips include Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The 2027 and 2028 slates continue this rotation, with 2028 home games also hosting Central Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Texas.
The schedule’s structure reflects a strategic approach to both competition and revenue. Each out‑of‑conference slot is treated as a potential buy game, a practice that has become common among Power Five programs seeking to fund their athletic departments. As the SEC’s scheduling formula is slated for review after four seasons, the future of permanent rivalries beyond 2029 remains uncertain.
Looking ahead, the 2029 home slate includes Washington, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, while the away games will test the Volunteers against Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The only confirmed 2030 fixture is an away game at Washington, completing a two‑year series that began with a home game in 2029.