The Tennessee Volunteers’ SEC opener just got bigger. According to an announcement from Tennessee Football on Tuesday morning, the Volunteers will host their annual Checker Neyland game on Saturday, Sept. 26, against the Texas Longhorns.
The game will now feature several important storylines pertaining to the game and events around the game. For one, it’ll be Tennessee’s SEC opener in the new nine-game conference format and the first matchup between the Volunteers and the Longhorns since the 1968 season. Tennessee and Texas have only squared off three previous times in program history, with the three Cotton Bowl matchups taking place in 1951, 1953, and 1969.
The other notable aspect of the game is the return of the Manning bloodline to the in-game playing surface of Neyland Stadium. Barring any unforeseen injury between now and the game, Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s trip to Knoxville will be the first time that a Manning has played in Neyland Stadium since Peyton Manning’s final home game.
It’ll be a cornucopia of good storylines and fascinating topics for the late-September game from Knoxville. Plus, there’s an important football game to be played. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see ESPN’s College GameDay in town, either.
Here’s how Tennessee’s past nine Checker Neyland games in Knoxville have shaken out:
- 9/13/25 – L – Georgia 44, Tennessee 41 (OT)
- 10/12/24 – W – Tennessee 23, Florida 17 (OT)
- 10/14/23 – W – Tennessee 20, Texas A&M 13
- 9/24/22 – W – Tennessee 38, Florida 33
- 10/16/21 – L – Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 26
- 9/30/17 – L – Georgia 41, Tennessee 0
- 9/24/16 – W – Tennessee 38, Florida 28
- 9/12/15 – L – Oklahoma 31, Tennessee 24 (2OT)
- 10/14/14 – L – Florida 10, Tennessee 9
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Announces Homecoming Game For 2026 Football Season
Tennessee will have three games under its belt when it welcomes the Texas Longhorns for the late-September Checker Neyland matchup. The Vols will begin their season with a home game against Furman, a road game at Georgia Tech, and a home game against Kennesaw State.
Following the Texas game, Tennessee will stay in Knoxville for a home game against Alex Golesh and Tim Banks’ Auburn Tigers in Neyland Stadium the following week.
Here’s a look at the Vols’ full 2026 schedule:
- Sept. 5 – vs Furman
- Sept. 12 – at Georgia Tech
- Sept. 19 – vs Kennesaw State (Salute to Service)
- Sept. 26 – vs Texas (Checker Neyland)
- Oct. 3 – vs Auburn (Champions Weekend)
- Oct. 10 – at Arkansas
- Oct. 17 – vs Alabama
- Oct. 24 – at South Carolina
- Oct. 31 – OPEN
- Nov. 7 – vs Kentucky (Homecoming)
- Nov. 14 – at Texas A&M
- Nov. 21 – vs LSU
- Nov. 28 – at Vanderbilt
