Season Opener
The Volunteers will kick off the 2026 season on September 5 at Neyland Stadium, where the game against Furman is set for a 3:30 p.m. EDT start. The matchup marks the third meeting in a series that began in 1941, with Tennessee holding a 2‑0 edge in the all‑time record.
Furman’s own schedule places Anderson University as its opponent the week before the Tennessee game, a detail that underscores the tight clustering of early‑season contests. Tennessee’s historical dominance over the Paladins is evident in the 52‑7 victory recorded in 1942, the last meeting before a long hiatus.
A Packed Regional Road Trip
Following the Furman contest, the Volunteers will travel to face a succession of foes that include Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU. Each of those programs brings a distinct challenge, from the Yellow Jackets’ storied tradition in Atlanta to the Crimson Tide’s national prominence in Tuscaloosa.
Road games are scheduled at venues such as Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, the home field of Georgia Tech, and the historic Shields–Watkins Field in Greenville, where the earlier series with Furman was played. Additional away tests await in College Station, where Texas A&M hosts, and in Columbia, where South Carolina awaits its turn.
The Volunteers will also host a series of home games against Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU, creating a balanced mix of non‑conference and SEC opponents. The schedule includes an open week on October 31, giving the team a rare chance to regroup before the final stretch.
Closing the Season
The regular season concludes with a road test at Vanderbilt’s home in Nashville, where the Commodores will host the Volunteers in a rivalry that dates back more than a century. The final opponent’s preceding week features a matchup at Florida, adding another layer of intensity to the closing schedule.