The tipoff time is reportedly set for one of Tennessee basketball’s premier non conference matchups on its 2025-26 schedule. Tennessee’s matchup against Illinois at Bridgestone Arena will reportedly tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 6 according to Matt Sarzyniak.
ESPN holds the broadcasting rights to the game meaning it will be on one of their channels. It seems unlikely that it would be ESPN since the game in on college football conference championship Saturday. Though the night cap conference championship games are typically the ACC and Big 12.
It’s the first of a two-game series between Tennessee and Illinois. After the meeting in Nashville, Tennessee will make a trip to Chicago to face Illinois during the 2027-28 season.
“Our program is really looking forward to this matchup with Illinois,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said in a statement when the game was announced over the summer. “We have a great deal of respect for Brad Underwood and the Illini, and we know playing them will help prepare us for SEC action. The opportunity to compete in Nashville, a city filled with diehard Tennessee fans, is always special and we can’t wait to see Vol Nation pack Bridgestone Arena.”
More From RTI: Four-Star Shooting Guard Unofficially Visiting Tennessee Basketball This Weekend
Tennessee’s win at the State Farm Center was one of its most notable last season as Jordan Gainey made a game winning layup as time expired. The road win was the breakout party for one of the SEC’s best sixth men a season ago. Gainey scored 23 points to lead the Vols to the victory while Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier battled foul trouble.
The Vols’ wins over Illinois the last two years proved extremely beneficial for their resume, and the Fighting Illini appear to present another extremely challenging task again next season. Illinois currently ranks No. 7 in Bart Torvik’s analytics based rankings while ESPN’s Jeff Borzello has the Fighting Illini No. 16 in his way-too-early rankings. For comparison, Tennessee lands at No. 13 and No. 23 in those rankings.
Tennessee’s matchup against Illinois is one of six marquee non conference matchups on its 2026-27 schedule. The Vols travel to Syracuse for the ACC-SEC Challenge, host Louisville at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Tennessee will also travel to Las Vegas for the Players Era Tournament where they’ll face Rutgers, Houston and a third team that is not yet set. Tennessee will open up its 2025-26 campaign again Mercer on Nov. 3 at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville.
