Tennessee’s 2026 football season will kick off Sept. 5 with a nonconference matchup against Furman. The Vols’ season opener is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium (SEC Network+).
Tennessee leads the all-time football series versus Furman, 2-0. The Vols and Paladins last played on Oct. 24, 1942 with Tennessee winning, 52-7. Tennessee also won the first game in the series, 32-6, on Sept. 20, 1941. Both matchups were contested at Shields–Watkins Field.
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The Vols will also host 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. Tennessee’s open date is scheduled for Oct. 31.
Below are who Tennessee’s opponents are scheduled to play one week before facing the Vols during the 2026 football season.
More: Tennessee’s five must-win football games ranked in 2026
Who Tennessee’s 2026 football opponents play one week before facing Vols
|
Tennessee’s opponent |
Opponent’s game one week before |
|
Furman (Sept. 5) |
Anderson University (Aug. 27) |
|
at Georgia Tech (Sept. 12) |
Colorado (Sept. 3) |
|
Kennesaw State (Sept. 19) |
Georgia State (Sept. 12) |
|
Texas (Sept. 26) |
UTSA (Sept. 19) |
|
Auburn (Oct. 3) |
Vanderbilt (Sept. 26) |
|
at Arkansas (Oct. 10) |
at Texas A&M (Oct. 3) |
|
Alabama (Oct. 17) |
Georgia (Oct. 10) |
|
at South Carolina (Oct. 24) |
Open date (Oct. 17) |
|
Open date (Oct. 31) |
|
|
Kentucky (Nov. 7) |
Open date (Oct. 31) |
|
at Texas A&M (Nov. 14) |
at South Carolina (Nov. 7) |
|
LSU (Nov. 21) |
Texas (Nov. 14) |
|
at Vanderbilt (Nov. 28) |
at Florida (Nov. 21) |
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Who Vols’ opponents play one week before during 2026 football season
