If Tennessee football’s goal is to win as many games as possible in 2025, it seems its non-conference scheduling will be conducive to that.
On3 ranked the Vols’ quartet of games against Syracuse, ETSU, UAB and New Mexico State as one of the 10 easiest out-of-conference slates across the country. Tennessee joined SEC programs Vanderbilt, Georgia, Missouri, Ole Miss and Auburn on the list. The other teams featured were Wake Forest, Penn State, Maryland and Texas Tech.
Conversely, the teams with the toughest out-of-conference slates were Baylor, Miami, TCU, Duke, Clemson, Syracuse, Kent State, Ohio, Tulane, Florida and Florida State.
Easiest nonconference schedules in college football👀
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— On3 (@On3sports) July 19, 2025
More From RTI: Where Tennessee’s Opponents Land in Various Offseason Rankings, Polls
Tennessee gets its season started in Atlanta with an out-of-conference game against Syracuse. The Orange were a very solid team a year ago, finishing 10-3, but are losing many key pieces, such as quarterback Kyle McCord. According to ESPN’s FPI, Syracuse is the No. 62 team in the country.
The Vols will then make their home debut for the season against ETSU. The in-state foe is a member of Division I FCS and is coming off a 7-5 season. However, the Bucs will have a new coach this year in Will Healy, who has head coaching experience at Austin Peay and Charlotte.
After a game against Georgia at home, Tennessee will turn its attention to UAB. The Blazers clock in as the No. 115 team in the country, according to ESPN’s FPI. UAB is coached by Trent Dilfer, who has experience as the head coach of Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee and was a long-time NFL quarterback. Last year, he led the team to just a 3-9 record and is on the hot seat in year three.
The Vols’ final non-conference game is toward the end of the schedule. Tennessee will host New Mexico State, the school UT running back Star Thomas spent two years at. NMSU ranks as the No. 134 team in ESPN’s FPI and is coming off a 4-8 season in Tony Sanchez’s first year atop the program.
