A leaked schedule obtained by Knox News shows that the University of Tennessee men's basketball team will open its 2026‑27 home slate with a series of high‑profile SEC matchups. The information comes from an anonymous source who spoke to the newsroom about the upcoming season.
Home Conference Slate
The Vols will host Florida, Arkansas, Alabama and Vanderbilt as part of their SEC home schedule, while also welcoming Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina to their arena. These games mark a continuation of the home‑and‑home series with Kentucky and Vanderbilt, ensuring that fans will see familiar rivals on multiple occasions throughout the year.
On the road, Tennessee will travel to face Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Texas, rounding out a demanding conference slate that tests the team against some of the nation's top programs.
Outside the SEC, the team will test itself against non‑conference opponents such as Michigan State, Purdue, NC State and Florida State, adding further variety to the schedule. The non‑conference portion also includes a marquee event in Las Vegas, where Tennessee will participate in the Players Era opener, opening the season with a game against Maryland on November 24.
The upcoming games are supported by partners such as Food City and Bridgestone, both of which have longstanding ties to the university's athletic programs and will help bring the excitement to fans across the state.
While the slate promises exciting matchups, the SEC has not yet officially released the schedule and the specific dates remain undetermined, leaving fans eager for the final announcement.