Tennessee
Louisville reportedly tried to set up series with Tennessee football
Louisville reportedly tried to set up a football home-and-home series with Tennessee.
After Nebraska backed out of a series with the Vols that was slated for 2026 in Lincoln and 2027 in Knoxville and had been scheduled for more than a decade earlier this year, the Cardinals were interested in filling the void on Tennessee’s schedule, according to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
The Vols instead announced a home-and-home series against Georgia Tech last month, reviving the rivalry between the two programs in Atlanta in 2026 and again at Neyland Stadium in 2027.
“After Nebraska canceled the series, our main focus was to secure another home-and-home matchup with an opponent from a Power Four conference, which seemed improbable at the time,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a statement on April 9. “I sincerely appreciate Athletic Director J Batt’s creativity in modifying Georgia Tech’s schedule to make this series possible. We look forward to seeing plenty of orange in Atlanta in 2026!”
According to McMurphy, Louisville also tried to add Ole Miss to its future non-conference schedule but were turned down by the Rebels, who will play Washington State after Wake Forest bought out its contract last year.
The Cardinals have scheduled home-and-home games against Georgia, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the coming years.
Tennessee has played Louisville five times previously, winning all five match ups dating back to 1914.
The two teams last played in a home-and-home series in 1991 and 1993 with the Vols beating the Cardinals, 28-11 at the since-demolished Cardinal Stadium and 45-10 at Neyland Stadium two years later.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Where Tennessee football’s updated win total stands for 2025 season
Tennessee has played an ACC team as part of its non-conference schedule for four-straight seasons. The Vols split a home-and-home series with Pittsburgh in 2021 and 2022 and beat Virginia in Nashville in its 2023 opener.
Tennessee routed NC State, 51-10 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte last season. The Vols are set to opener their 2025 campaign against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 30 (Noon ET, ABC).
Upcoming Tennessee schedules currently feature non-conference games against West Virginia in Charlotte in 2028 and a home-and-home series with Washington in 2029 (Knoxville) and 2030 (Seattle).
Tennessee
Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator
Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.
“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.
“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”
Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.
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Tennessee
Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates
Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.
UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.
Game times and television designations will be announced later.
Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.
Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.
Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.
Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.
Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.
Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.
Tennessee football 2026 schedule
- Sept. 5: Furman
- Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
- Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
- Sept. 26: Texas*
- Oct. 3: Auburn*
- Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
- Oct. 17: Alabama*
- Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
- Oct. 31: Open
- Nov. 7: Kentucky*
- Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
- Nov. 21: LSU*
- Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*
*SEC game
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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Tennessee
Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee
Tennessee announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.
“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”
Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.
Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.
The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
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