The SEC released the game time slots for the 2026 football season on Wednesday night. A number of Tennessee football games are flexed with multiple time slots being in play, but seven of the 12 games have a specific time slots set.
There’s good and bad news in the time slots. Taking a look at where the Vols got good breaks and bad breaks.
More From RTI: Third Saturday in October Matchup in Neyland Stadium Officially Gets Time Slot
Good News
Alabama Will Likely Be A Night Game
The Third Saturday In October is flexed as either an afternoon or night game. But when you dive a bit deeper, it would be pretty shocking if this was not the ABC night game.
The other potential SEC night games are Kentucky-Oklahoma and Arkansas-Vanderbilt. It would be pretty shocking if either of those got the primetime nod over Tennessee-Alabama. Auburn-Georgia is already locked into the ABC afternoon slot.
Tennessee’s rivalry game against Alabama is one of the biggest on its schedule and a near toss up entering the season. The Vols should have the full force of Neyland Stadium behind them.
Auburn And LSU Will Be Either Afternoon Or Night Games
Like the Alabama game, both of Tennessee’s home matchups against Auburn and LSU are locked into either the afternoon or night time slot. And there’s a real chance both could be night games.
Oct. 3, when Tennessee hosts Auburn, is a weak SEC slate. Other potential night games include Florida-Missouri, Kentucky-South Carolina and Arkansas-Texas A&M. None of those games are definitive primetime games. Neither is Tennessee-Auburn but there’s a chance it could take precedent.
Then Tennessee’s week 12 matchup against LSU likely looks like a primetime ABC night game. Its main competition is Georgia-South Carolina. A lot can change between now and mid November. But if both the Vols and Tigers are having solid seasons, the Lane Kiffin returning to Neyland Stadium storyline could push that matchup over the edge.
The Vols Avoid A Night Game At South Carolina
Tennessee’s week eight matchup against South Carolina is locked into the afternoon time slot. One of the biggest games on Tennessee’s schedule, it’s a big win that it won’t be played under the lights of Williams-Brice Stadium.
In fact, it’s the first day game Tennessee will play in Columbia since 2012. The Vols have played five straight night games at South Carolina, posting a 2-3 record in those five games.
Bad News
Texas Game Is A Noon Kickoff
The most obvious piece of bad news is Tennessee’s matchup against Texas kicking off at noon ET. The Longhorns enter the season as SEC favorites and the game is the conference opener for both teams.
It’s also the first major home game of the season for Tennessee. All the elements of an electric Neyland Stadium are there, but the noon kick off will decrease the likelihood of the environment being at its very best.
Two Road Games Are At Night
Tennessee has five road games on its schedule and two are already set for night games— Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. There is good news amidst the bad news, both of those environments should not be all that difficult. Tennessee always has a large percentage of fans at Vanderbilt and could have a huge turnout in Atlanta as well.
The Vols’ matchup at Arkansas could either be an afternoon or night game. With Arkansas’ 2024 upset over Tennessee fresh on the mind, the Vols would like to keep this one in the afternoon.
