Tennessee football fans can look forward to an exciting 2026 season, as the Volunteers are set to host five SEC home games. This was confirmed by Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White. As the SEC conference evolves to a nine-game lineup per season, the distribution of home games has become a significant talking point among teams.
For the 2026 season, Tennessee will enjoy the benefit of five home games, part of a total of seven home games including non-conference matchups. White shared insights into the scheduling dynamic during his appearance on the “Big Orange Countdown” on the Vol Network. He mentioned that the non-conference schedule is aligned with this rotation, and he does not anticipate any changes to this framework.
Adding to the excitement, Tennessee’s non-conference schedule will feature a home-and-home series with Georgia Tech in 2026 and 2027. This series replaces the previously scheduled games with Nebraska, which were canceled by the Cornhuskers earlier this year.
As the SEC transitions into its new nine-game structure, it is also set to announce on September 23 each team’s three permanent rivals. This announcement will include details on the teams and locations for all conference matchups. The upcoming format will involve a rotation among the remaining teams outside of each school’s permanent rivals and will forgo the traditional divisional alignment.
Danny White praised the efforts of SEC Deputy Commissioner Charlie Hussey and the conference office for their collaborative work over recent years. White has been cautious about long-term non-conference scheduling and emphasized the importance of aligning home and away games with the SEC schedule.
This strategic mix of home and away games can greatly benefit Tennessee, allowing them to enjoy the competitive edge of more home fixtures while maintaining challenging road matches. The Volunteer fans can anticipate thrilling home games and a balanced schedule as the new system unfolds.