Texas and Tennessee will face off in an SEC opener with both teams undefeated and ranked in the top 15, kicking off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Longhorns, currently 3-0 and holding the No. 1 spot in the AP poll, travel to take on the No. 14 Volunteers, who also boast a perfect 3-0 record after dominant wins over Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech, and Furman.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who led the Longhorns to a 30-6 victory over UTSA last week, will look to avoid the mistakes that cost them in last year’s SEC opener. In 2025, on October 4, Manning threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter during a 29-21 loss at Florida. This year, head coach Steve Sarkisian expects the defense to contribute more effectively, especially with edge rusher Colin Simmons returning from an undisclosed injury that sidelined him in the second half against UTSA. Sarkisian said Simmons is expected to be “fine” for the Tennessee game.
The Volunteers have been efficient offensively behind quarterback Faizon Brandon, who will challenge the Longhorns’ defense on Saturday. Tennessee’s average margin of victory so far this season stands at 33.6 points, underscoring their offensive and defensive balance heading into conference play.
Fans wanting to watch the game can tune in on ABC. For those preferring streaming options, services offering the broadcast include Sling TV, which has short-term passes starting at $4.99, fuboTV beginning at $63.99 for the first month, DIRECTV STREAM at $59.99 for the first month, Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 a month with a three-day free trial, and YouTube TV at $52.99 per month for the first three months.
The betting lines released by DraftKings on Friday morning list Texas as the favorite with a moneyline of -198 and Tennessee at +164. The spread favors Texas by 4½ points, with an over/under set at 54½.
Texas’ schedule following the Tennessee game includes a bye week in Week 5, a home game against No. 24 Oklahoma in Week 6, and matchups with Florida, No. 8 Ole Miss, and Mississippi State before concluding the regular season with road games at No. 20 Missouri, No. 7 LSU, and No. 9 Texas A&M.
The Longhorns have shown resilience this season, including a narrow 24-23 victory over No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2. Their defense, highlighted by linebacker Rasheem Biles and edge rusher Zina Umeozulu, responded well in critical moments against UTSA, a trend Sarkisian hopes continues against Tennessee’s high-scoring offense.
Saturday’s game marks Texas’ first-ever visit to Neyland Stadium, adding historical significance to an already intense early-season contest. The clash between two undefeated teams with playoff aspirations will be a test for both sides as they transition into SEC play.
According to Yahoo Sports.