Tennessee basketball will have another clash with Houston in the 2025-26 season.
The Vols will face the Cougars in the 2025 Players Era Festival at 6 p.m. ET Nov. 25 in an Elite Eight rematch in their second game in Las Vegas. They open against Rutgers at 1 p.m. Nov. 24 in the first game played in the week-long tournament with NIL opportunities for players.
Advertisement
UT will play a third game in a tournament, but that matchup is not set.
Tennessee has played Rutgers twice, winning in New York City in March 1969 and at Rutgers in November 1992. UT lost 69-50 to Houston on March 30 in the Elite Eight at Lucas Oil Stadium. It has a 3-3 record against the Cougars.
UT is in the Players Era Festival for three seasons.
Tennessee is one of 18 teams in the 2025 tournamnet. The field also includes Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. Joe’s, St. John’s, Syracuse and Texas A&M.
Tennessee’s nonconference opponents include Louisville and Syracuse
Tennessee will host Louisville on Dec. 16 to complete the back half of a home-and-home series. It plays at Syracuse in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 2.
Tennessee basketball’s SEC schedule in 2025-26
Tennssee will play Alabama and Kentucky twice in the 2025-26 SEC season, the conference announced June 18.
Advertisement
FAREWELL: Jahmai Mashack pens farewell to Tennessee basketball after going to Grizzlies in NBA draft
The Vols also play Vanderbilt twice as the Commodores and Wildcats are UT’s two permanent home-and-home matchups. Alabama rotated onto the schedule as a home-and-home, while Florida dropped off and the Vols play the defending national champions only on the road.
Only SEC opponents and game sites were announced. Dates and TV designations will be released later.
Tennessee’s single-play home opponents are Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M. Its single-play road opponents are Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri and South Carolina.
Advertisement
The Vols are hosting Oklahoma and Texas at Food City Center for the first time as members of the SEC. They played at OU and Texas last season during the programs’ first season in the conference.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball schedule: Vols play Houston, Rutgers in Las Vegas
