ESPN is broadcasting Tennessee football’s regular season finale against Vanderbilt, the SEC announced on Saturday night. The SEC had already announced that the matchup would kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET but flexed the broadcast rights.
LSU-Oklahoma was the other game as part of the flex and is a somewhat similar matchup with Oklahoma remaining in the College Football Playoff hunt. ABC is broadcasting the matchup.
The broadcasting crew is not yet set for the matchup. It will be Tennessee’s first game on ESPN all season.
It’s Tennessee’s sixth afternoon game this season along with its matchups against ETSU, Georgia, Mississippi State, Arkansas and New Mexico State. The Vols play their fourth night game of the season this week at Florida along with matchups against Oklahoma, Kentucky and Alabama. Tennessee played just two games in the noon time slot during the regular season.
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Tennessee is 8-3 (4-3 SEC) after dominating Florida 31-11 on Saturday night in Gainesville. The Vols are all but eliminated from the College Football Playoffs but are looking to close the regular season strong with a second straight rivalry win.
Vanderbilt’s College Football Playoff hopes are still alive with one game remaining in the 2025 season. The Commodores are 9-2 (5-2 SEC) after blitzing Kentucky Saturday in their penultimate game of the regular season. Vanderbilt’s two losses this season were each on the road, first at Alabama and then again at Texas.
In a reversal of last season, Tennessee will likely be looking to dash Vanderbilt’s College Football Playoff hopes in the regular season finale. Tennessee has dominated the rivalry series all time, holding an 81-32-5 advantage. The Vols have won the last six matchups dating back to Jeremy Pruit’s first year as Tennessee’s head coach.
Other top SEC matchups on rivalry week including Ole Miss-Mississippi State, Georgia-Georgia Tech and Texas A&M-Texas on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Top rivalry games on Saturday include the Iron Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and LSU-Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. ET on either ABC.
