A revamped roster and a demanding slate
The University of Tennessee has unveiled its 2026‑27 SEC schedule, a 18‑game conference slate that balances nine home contests at Thompson‑Boling Arena with nine road trips across the Southeast and beyond.
Home fans will see the Vols host Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina, while the road slate includes trips to Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Texas, ensuring a varied slate of opponents.
Series such as Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt will unfold as home‑and‑home matchups, adding a familiar rhythm to the conference calendar.
Off the court, Tennessee’s roster has been reshaped by a flurry of activity in the transfer portal and the high school signing period. The program has secured eight portal transfers — including Tyler Lundblade, Dai Dai Ames, Miles Rubin, Jalen Haralson, Terrence Hill Jr., Braedan Lue, Juke Harris and Christian Fermin — and added four high school signees: Ralph Scott, Manny Green, Marquis Clark and Christopher Washington Jr.
The departures have been equally notable. Point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and forward Felix Okpara have exhausted their eligibility, while freshman star Nate Ament has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. Sophomore guard Ethan Burg opted to return to Israel for personal reasons, and the team will also be without the graduating seniors who left the program.
Nevertheless, the Vols will retain point guard Troy Henderson and forward DeWayne Brown II, the only players who return from last season, giving the coaching staff a foundation on which to build.
With a challenging schedule and a blend of experienced returnees and fresh talent, the Volunteers aim to compete at the top of the SEC and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.