Tennessee’s five must-win football games ranked in 2026

The 2026 football season will be the sixth for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel.

Since 2021, he has guided the Vols to a 45-20 (24-16 SEC) record, one College Football Playoff appearance and four bowl games. Heupel has defeated Alabama two times and Florida three times.

Beginning in 2026, Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as permanent opponents. Each SEC school will have three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents for the next four years.

The Vols will host Furman, Kennesaw State, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky and LSU, while playing at Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt during the 2026 campaign.

Below are five must-win games ranked for Tennessee during the 2026 football season.

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5. LSU

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin speaks at South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium on Dec. 1, 2025.

Date: Nov. 21

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Lane Kiffin will return to Tennessee in his first season as LSU’s head coach. He defeated Heupel and the Vols, 31-26, at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 16, 2021 with Ole Miss. Kiffin served as Tennessee’s head coach in 2009, compiling a 7-6 (4-4 SEC) record.

More: The story of Lane Kiffin’s final day as Tennessee’s head coach

4. Split between Arkansas and South Carolina

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel shakes hands after the game with South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 30, 2023.

Dates: Oct. 10 at Arkansas, Oct. 24 at South Carolina

Locations: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Arkansas), Williams-Brice Stadium (Columbia, South Carolina)

Tennessee’s schedule in October consists of games versus Auburn, at Arkansas, versus Alabama, at South Carolina and an open date on Oct. 31.

Heupel and the Vols lost at Arkansas, 19-14, on Oct. 5, 2024. The Vols have not won at Arkansas since Sept. 8, 2001. Tennessee has played one time at South Carolina during Heupel’s tenure. The Gamecocks defeated Tennessee, 63-38, on Nov. 19, 2022.

3. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech cheerleaders ride the Ramblin’ Wreck car before a game against Georgia State at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field on Aug. 31, 2024.

Date: Sept. 12

Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)

The Vols and Yellow Jackets will play for the first time since Sept. 4, 2017. Georgia Tech will also host Tennessee at home for the first time since Oct. 25, 1986. The Vols lead the all-time series, 25-17-2.

2. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea at Southeastern Conference media days on July 18, 2023 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

Date: Nov. 28

Location: FirstBank Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)

Heupel and Tennessee were outscored, 24-3, in the second half against Vanderbilt in a 2025 regular-season finale defeat at Neyland Stadium. The Vols are 8-6 against Vanderbilt since 2012.

1. Auburn

Auburn head coach Alex Golesh talks with his team during practice at Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Alabama on April 16, 2026.

Date: Oct. 3

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Alex Golesh will return to Neyland Stadium for the first time as Auburn’s head coach. He served as the Vols’ offensive coordinator and tight ends coach under Heupel from 2021-22 before being hired at USF as head coach.