Josh Heupel Gives Thoughts on New SEC Schedule, Tennessee Not Playing Georgia or Florida

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule is going to feel a bit weird. The Vols won’t play Florida or Georgia during the season with the recent removal of divisions and now a nine-game SEC schedule featuring three sustained rivalry games per team.

For Tennessee, it will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt annually. That means that fan-favorite rivalry matchups with the Gators and Bulldogs are off the table and will only be played every other year instead of on a yearly basis.

At SEC Media Days last week, UT head coach Josh Heupel was asked about not having either on the schedule. His response pointed to the unique situation Tennessee is in with so many different rivalries, but also his excitement to play at a number of new schools.

“I think rivalry games absolutely matter,” Heupel said. “I think one of the unique things at Tennessee is different eras of our fan base kind of points to a different game. Could be the Florida game, Alabama game, some other teams as well. I think the passion, the tradition of some of the games are what make college football unique. But I do also like that as a program and for your fan base, you’re going to have the opportunity every four years to be able to go to every stadium inside of the SEC footprint.”

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The new format means if a player plays four years at one school without transferring, they will have played every team in the SEC at least twice and at every stadium in the conference, barring neutral site clashes.

Here’s a look at Tennessee’s 2026-29 scheduling:

2026 SEC Opponents

• Home (5)
  • Alabama
  • Auburn
  • Kentucky
  • LSU
  • Texas
• Away (4)
  • Arkansas
  • South Carolina
  • Texas A&M
  • Vanderbilt

2027 SEC Opponents

• Home (4)
  • Florida
  • Ole Miss
  • Mississippi State
  • Vanderbilt
• Away (5)
  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Missouri
  • Oklahoma

2028 SEC Opponents

• Home (5)
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • South Carolina
  • Texas A&M
• Away (4)
  • Auburn
  • LSU
  • Texas
  • Vanderbilt

2029 SEC Opponents

• Home (4)
  • Georgia
  • Missouri
  • Oklahoma
  • Vanderbilt
• Away (5)
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Ole Miss
  • Mississippi State