SEC · Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee Football
2026 college football program hub
The short version
Tennessee football in 2026
Tennessee is 4-1 through 5 completed games: 4 wins, 1 loss.
Latest confirmed result: Tennessee beat Auburn Tigers, 24-14, on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Tennessee plays next against Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at home in Knoxville, Tennessee. The kickoff time is TBD. TV coverage is TBD.
Program center
Tennessee football pages
2026 season
SEC football
4-1 current recordHead coach
Josh Heupel
Leading the Tennessee Volunteers through the 2026 season.
Program profile
Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee
In pictures
TENN on game day
Program background · Reviewed 2026-09-01
A fourth straight quarterback
Tennessee will open a season with a new starting quarterback for the fourth year running. Joey Aguilar's attempt to secure a sixth year of eligibility failed in court, and rather than replace him from the portal with an established starter, Heupel has gone young: Faizon Brandon was named the starter on August 21, with George MacIntyre also in the picture.
This is the recurring problem beneath a good program. Heupel's offences are built on tempo and timing, which is exactly the system in which continuity at quarterback matters most, and Tennessee has not had any since Hendon Hooker.
Program background · Reviewed 2026-09-01
The year the schedule cooperates
Set against that, the draw is unusually generous. Five of the first six games are in Knoxville. Tennessee has no back-to-back road games at any point, does not travel to Georgia, and hosts Texas, Auburn, Alabama and LSU. It has never hosted Texas or LSU under Heupel, and has won its last two home games against Alabama.
There is also a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, who arrives with a coordinating record at Ohio State and Penn State. A young quarterback behind an experienced defence, playing most of the hard games at home, is a reasonable structure for a season. Whether it produces one is the question.
Explore
More on TENN
Players
Roster
Published player records by position group, with available class years, measurements, and hometowns.
Staff
Coaches
Josh Heupel and the published staff directory.
Numbers
Season stats
Confirmed results, points scored and allowed, and per-game scoring averages.
Archive
Program history
Championships, milestones, and the program’s history.
League
SEC
The rest of the conference and how the title race is shaping up.
Nearby
Teams in Tennessee
Other programs in the same state, if you follow more than one.
FAQ
TENN frequently asked questions
What is the TENN 2026 football record?
Tennessee is 4-1 through 5 completed games: 4 wins, 1 loss.
When does TENN play next?
Tennessee plays next against Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at home in Knoxville, Tennessee. The kickoff time is TBD. TV coverage is TBD.
Who coaches Tennessee?
Josh Heupel is the head coach.
What conference does TENN play in?
Tennessee competes in the SEC.
Where does Tennessee play its home games?
Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, one of the largest venues in college football with a capacity over 100,000.
Why did Tennessee start a true freshman quarterback in 2026?
Joey Aguilar's bid for a sixth season of eligibility was denied by the courts, leaving the job open. Rather than bring in an established transfer, Josh Heupel handed the role to Faizon Brandon, the program's highest-ranked signee, making him the first Tennessee true freshman to start a season opener in 22 years.
How many quarterbacks has Tennessee started in a row as new starters?
2026 marks the fourth consecutive season Tennessee opens with a new starting quarterback, following Joe Milton, Nico Iamaleava and Joey Aguilar in the years before Faizon Brandon.
Last updated
Published by Football Schedules Hub. Sources and editorial standards · Report a correction