Another metric is pointing toward Tennessee football having one of, if not the easiest, schedules in the SEC this season.
According to PEARatings, a site that uses analytics to break down college football, the Vols’ toughest four-game stretch is the least difficult of any team in the conference this season.
PEARatings marked Tennessee’s stretch against Arkansas, at Alabama, at Kentucky and Oklahoma as the toughest four-game span on the schedule. In those metrics, the Razorbacks are the No. 36 team in the country, the Tide are No. 4, the Wildcats are No. 48 and the Sooners are No. 14.
Comparatively, the toughest stretch in the SEC goes to Florida, which plays No. 7 LSU and No. 15 Miami on the road, No. 2 Texas at home and No. 10 Texas A&M on the road.
The Vols are listed in the toughest stretch for Mississippi State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama. Just Florida, Vanderbilt and Georgia are the SEC opponents Tennessee will play that it won’t be a part of their gauntlet for.
SEC Toughest 4-Game Stretches
Florida’s 4-game stretch is the toughest in the country – and they play 3 of them on the road. Tennessee has the easiest in the SEC. pic.twitter.com/IleGZrRDZ8
— PEARatings (@PEARatings) August 10, 2025
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Tennessee will open the season on Aug. 30 by facing ACC foe Syracuse in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will air on ABC. Then, the Vols will head to Neyland Stadium for their home opener. UT will face ETSU on Sep. 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET on SECN+/ESPN+.
The SEC opener is the following Saturday on Sep. 13. Tennessee will meet Georgia at home at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Then, the Vols will host UAB at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sep. 20, airing on SEC Network.
The Vols’ first away game is scheduled to be a trip to play Mississippi State on Sep. 27. Then, UT begins its toughest stretch when returning home to play Arkansas on Oct. 11. A two-game road stretch follows to play Alabama on Oct. 18 and Kentucky on Oct. 25. Tennessee returns home to play Oklahoma on Nov. 1.
The Vols will catch their breath by facing New Mexico State on Nov. 15 following a bye week. That game will start at 4:15 p.m. ET and air on SEC Network. Then, Tennessee will play at Florida on Nov. 22 and host Vanderbilt on Nov. 29 to round out the regular season.
