Story by
What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about SEC moving to nine-game schedule in 2026 season
- Story by
- What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about SEC moving to nine-game schedule in 2026 season
Josh Heupel 's first reaction to the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule was gratitude.
The Tennessee football coach now has one less thing he will be asked about at SEC media days and similar events having that one "finally checked," Heupel said.
Advertisement
"This is the best conference top to bottom inside the country," Heupel said Aug. 25. "What you face week in and week out, adding a ninth game, I think it is exciting for everybody. Great venues. Great games. Really excited about that."
The SEC announced Aug. 21 it will introduce a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. It has played an eight-game conference schedule since 1992.
Every SEC team will have three annual opponents "focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries," with six rotating opponents. The structure will mean every SEC team will face each other at least once every two years and will play every opponent both home and way in every four-year cycle.
Tennessee has longstanding rivalries with multiple SEC programs, but the series with Alabama seems the most likely to be locked in for UT's schedule. Vanderbilt also appears likely, while Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina are leading options for the third team to be linked with the Vols.
Advertisement
The SEC also mandated every team play a nonconference game each season against a team from either the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 or Notre Dame.
Tennessee has nonconference matchups scheduled with power-conference opponents through 2030.
Georgia Tech will host Tennessee on Sept. 12, 2026, at either Bobby Dodd Stadium or potentially Mercedes-Benz Stadium. UT will face Georgia Tech at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 11, 2027.
RIVALS: Who should Tennessee football's three annual rivals be in SEC's nine-game schedule?
Tennessee is slated to open the 2028 season against West Virginia at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 2 in the Duke's Mayo Classic.
Advertisement
Tennessee and Washington announced a home-and-home series in January 2022. UT will host Washington on Sept. 1, 2029. The Vols will play in Seattle on Sept. 7, 2030.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Josh Heupel: Tennessee football coach in favor of nine-game SEC schedule
