Vols and Texas Get a Noon Kickoff Time

(utsports.com) – Tennessee football’s SEC home opener and Checker Neyland game against Texas on Sept. 26 will kick off at noon ET on either ABC or ESPN. The game time was part of the ESPN and SEC television window announcement Wednesday night.

Tennessee and Texas will square off in a regular season contest for the first time. The previous three meetings, including the last in 1969, occurred in Cotton Bowls.

Five of the Volunteers’ SEC games have been flexed – vs. Auburn (Oct. 3), at Arkansas (Oct. 10), vs. Alabama (Oct. 17), at Texas A&M (Nov. 14) and vs. LSU (Nov. 21). Flex kickoff times are between 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.

Tennessee and Kentucky will play at night when the Wildcats visit Neyland Stadium on Nov. 7.

Two road SEC tilts have solidified windows with Tennessee’s Oct. 24 road contest at South Carolina slated for afternoon and the regular season finale on Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt set for night. Afternoon kickoffs fall in the 3:30-4:30 p.m. time range, while night games start between 6-8 p.m.

For all listed windows (early, afternoon, night, flex), the exact start time within such window(s) will be confirmed no later than six days prior. Fans and viewers looking for more information on this era for the SEC and ESPN can visit SECNetwork.com/sec-on-abc-and-espn.

Tennessee’s first three game times were previously announced. The Vols open the season on Sept. 5 against Furman at 3:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+/ESPN+ from Neyland Stadium. UT travels to take on Georgia Tech on Sept. 12 in Atlanta at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The Vols’ final non-conference contest on Sept. 19 against Kennesaw State is set for a 7:45 p.m. start on SEC Network from Neyland Stadium.

Season tickets are sold out for the fourth consecutive year. Fans interested in purchasing future new season tickets can fill out the 2027 season ticket interest form.

2026 Tennessee Football Schedule  
all times Eastern
Sept. 5, Furman, 3:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
Sept. 12, at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 19, Kennesaw State, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
Sept. 26, Texas, noon, ABC or ESPN
Oct. 3, Auburn, Flex
Oct. 10, at Arkansas, Flex
Oct. 17, Alabama, Flex
Oct. 24, at South Carolina, Afternoon
Nov. 7, Kentucky, Night
Nov. 14, at Texas A&M, Flex
Nov. 21, LSU, Flex
Nov. 28, at Vanderbilt, Night

TV Windows
Early – noon-1 p.m. ET
Afternoon – 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Night – 6-8 p.m. ET
Flex – 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET