Tennessee basketball made a major addition to its non conference schedule next season, adding a home game against Michigan State.
The exact date of the game is uncertain but the addition to the schedule gives Tennessee what should be one of its most difficult non conference schedules in a number of years though the complete schedule is still uncertain.
Tennessee has yet to announce its full schedule but here’s what we do know about the Vols’ schedule at this point.
The Vols will host Big 10 power Michigan State at home while traveling to Mackey Arena to face Purdue on Dec. 12.
Tennessee will, again, participate in the ACC-SEC Challenge and is due for a home game in the event after playing at Syracuse last season. With the ACC improving, the Vols hope to get a solid opponent that can boost their resume before next season.
Rick Barnes’ 12th Tennessee team will play at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for a second straight season, this time facing off against former assistant coach Justin Gainey and North Carolina State.
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Tennessee has also agreed to play in the Players Era Festival for a second straight season. While the exact size, specific teams and dates of the event are not yet set, Tennessee will likely play three power five level opponents in as many days Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas.
As things currently stand, Tennessee will play seven of its 13 non conference games against either power five competition or high level non power five teams such as Gonzaga and San Diego State— both of which were participants in Players Era last season.
The Vols have scheduled between five and seven high-level non conference opponents for most of Barnes’ tenure in Knoxville. They played six games each of the last two seasons after playing seven during the 2023-24 season.
Next season will be the first time that Tennessee has played two power five non conference opponents at home since playing both Colorado and Cincinnati in the 2020-21 season. Capacity was limited that season at Thompson-Boling Arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before that, Tennessee last played two home power conference games during the 2018-19 season when they defeated both Georgia Tech and Wake Forest in Knoxville.
