Tennessee football now knows the kickoff window for each game on its 2026 schedule. On Wednesday evening, the SEC announced the windows for each team in the conference, including the Vols.
Along with those windows, UT also found out its game time for the SEC opener against Texas. When Arch Manning and the Longhorns come to town in a ‘Checker Neyland’ environment, the game will begin at noon ET and air on either ABC or ESPN.
This comes after the release of the start time for the Vols’ opening three games of the season, as well. Previously announced, the season-opener at home against Furman is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on SECN+/ESPN+. Then, Tennessee hits the road to play at Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The final non-conference clash is against Kennesaw State at home at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
With the announced windows, it confirms that Tennessee will have just one noon kickoff the entire year. That is the game against the Longhorns. All other games will start at 3:30 p.m. ET at the earliest.
Five of the nine SEC games are also in the ‘Flex’ window. This means that the SEC will get to choose between the 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET slot and 6-8 p.m. ET slot ahead of the game.
Official kickoff times that fit into the windows will be decided during the course of the season a few weeks in advance.
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Here’s a look at the entire 2026 Tennessee football schedule’s confirmed game times and kickoff windows. Below is also an explanation of what each window, early, afternoon, night and flex, means.
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
