2026 Tennessee football post-spring game-by-game predictions

Tennessee concluded spring football practices April 11 with its annual Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium. The Vols will kick off their 2026 football season Sept. 5 versus Furman at Neyland Stadium.

2026 will mark the sixth season for the Vols under head coach Josh Heupel . From 2021-25, he has guided Tennessee to a 45-20 (24-16 SEC) record, one College Football Playoff appearance and four bowl games. 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. More: Tennessee DC Jim Knowles' defenses by the numbers at Ohio State, Penn State Following the Orange & White Game and spring football practices, Vols Wire provides game predictions for Tennessee in 2026.

2026 Tennessee football post-spring game-by-game predictions Date Opponent Projection Sept. 5 Furman (Knoxville, Tennessee) W Sept. 12 Georgia Tech (Atlanta, Georgia) W Sept.