University of Tennessee Athletics
SEC Sets Times and Networks for 2026-27 Men’s Basketball Slate
October 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday afternoon the game times, network designations and final date selections for the upcoming 2026-27 men's basketball season.
During the 18-game conference docket, the Volunteers play nine contests at 7 p.m. or later, including seven at that exact time. It also has four affairs at 2 p.m., with just two earlier than that. There are 10 games on a Saturday, five on a Wednesday and three on a Tuesday.
Although 12 of its SEC tip times are still to be determined, Tennessee could have as many as 14 league outings on ESPN or ESPN2, up to eight of which could be on ESPN. Four games are slotted for SEC Network, with one listed as ESPN, one as ESPN2, six as ESPN/2, one as ESPN/2/U, one as ESPN/U and four as ESPN2/U.
In regular season non-conference action—including information previously announced—the Volunteers have 12 confirmed tip times. Nine are at 7 p.m. or later, with six at that exact time, while none are before 3 p.m. There are five games on a Tuesday, four on a Friday, two on a Sunday and one each on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Of Tennessee's 14 non-conference games, 13 are on the ESPN family of networks and the other is on FOX. The Volunteers have two tilts slated for ESPN, two for ESPN2, one for ESPN/2, one for ESPN/2/U, three for SEC Network and four for SEC Network+.
In addition to its aforementioned regular season slate, Tennessee has an Oct. 15 exhibition game against Xavier (7 p.m. on SECN+) in and an Oct. 20 exhibition clash at Duke (7 p.m. on ACCN).
The Volunteers' season officially begins Nov. 3 against Wofford (6 p.m. on SECN+). They then play Nov. 9 versus Radford (7 p.m. on SECN) and Nov. 13 against Tennessee State (7 p.m. on SECN+). Twelfth-year head coach Rick Barnes' team caps the homestand with a Nov. 17 matchup with Michigan State (9 p.m. on ESPN2) and a Nov. 20 game versus Coastal Carolina (7 p.m. on SECN+).
Up next for Tennessee is a visit to Las Vegas for the Players Era Men's Championship. It opens competition Nov. 24 against Maryland (3 p.m. on ESPN) and then plays Nov. 26 versus either Iowa State or San Diego State (1:30/9 p.m. on ESPN/2). The team wraps up play at the tournament Nov. 27, with the opponent (Louisville/Oregon/St. John's/Texas Tech), game time (3/5:30/8:30/11 p.m.) and TV network (ESPN/2/U) to be determined.
The Volunteers next play Dec. 1 at home against Florida State (7 p.m. on ESPN2) in the SEC/ACC Challenge, before traveling to Bridgestone Arena to play a Dec. 6 game against NC State (7 p.m. on ESPN) in the The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Nashville. After that is a Dec. 11 outing at Purdue (8 p.m. on FOX).
Barnes' team then concludes non-conference action with a three-game homestand that features a Dec. 16 contest versus Morehead State (8 p.m. on SECN), a Dec. 20 meeting with Marist (4 p.m. on SECN) and a Dec. 29 affair against Norfolk State (7 p.m. on SECN+).
Tennessee starts SEC play Jan. 2 against Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/2) and then plays back-to-back road games, the first Jan. 6 at Auburn (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and the latter Jan. 9 at LSU (8:30 p.m. on SECN). That is followed by consecutive home games, Jan. 13 versus Missouri (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and Jan. 16 against Arkansas (noon on ESPN/2).
Following a midweek bye, the Volunteers play Jan. 23 at Kentucky (2 p.m. on ESPN/2/U) and then Jan. 26 at Texas A&M (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). They finish the month with a Jan. 30 home clash with Florida (8/8:30 on ESPN/2).
The second month of league play opens Feb. 3 by hosting Georgia (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). That precedes two straight road games, Feb. 6 at Missouri (1 p.m. on SECN) and Feb. 10 at Oklahoma (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U).
Tennessee returns to Knoxville for a Feb. 13 meeting with Kentucky (4 p.m. on ESPN) and then plays Feb. 17 at Ole Miss (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). Up next are back-to-back home affairs, first Feb. 20 versus Alabama (2 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and then Feb. 23 against South Carolina (7 p.m. on SECN).
After that, the Volunteers take the court Feb. 27 at Texas (6/6:30 p.m. on ESPN/2). They wrap up the home slate March 2 against Mississippi State (6 p.m. on SECN) and then conclude the regular season March 6 at Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/U).
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
FULL 2026-27 SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and subject to change)
Oct. 15 – XAVIER [Exhib.] (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Oct. 20 – at Duke [Exhib.] (7 p.m. on ACCN)
Nov. 3 – WOFFORD (6 p.m. on SECN)
Nov. 9 – RADFORD (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 13 – TENNESSEE STATE (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 17 – MICHIGAN STATE (9 p.m. on ESPN2)
Nov. 20 – COASTAL CAROLINA (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 24 – vs. Maryland [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (3 p.m. on ESPN)
Nov. 26 – vs. Iowa State/San Diego State [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (1:30/9 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Nov. 27 – vs. TBD [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (TBD on ESPN/2/U)
Dec. 1 – FLORIDA STATE [SEC/ACC Challenge] (7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Dec. 6 – vs. NC State [The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Nashville, Tenn.] (7 p.m. on ESPN)
Dec. 11 – at Purdue (8 p.m. on FOX)
Dec. 16 – MOREHEAD STATE (8 p.m. on SECN)
Dec. 20 – MARIST (4 p.m. on SECN)
Dec. 29 – NORFOLK STATE (7 p.m. on SECN+)
JAN. 2 – VANDERBILT (2 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Jan. 6 – at Auburn (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
Jan. 9 – at LSU (8:30 p.m. on SECN)
JAN. 13 – MISSOURI (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
JAN. 16 – ARKANSAS (12 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Jan. 23 – at Kentucky (2 p.m. on ESPN/2/U)
Jan. 26 – at Texas A&M (7 p.m. on ESPN/2)
JAN. 30 – FLORIDA (8/8:30 p.m. on ESPN/2)
FEB. 3 – GEORGIA ( 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Feb. 6 – at Missouri (1 p.m. on SECN)
Feb. 10 – at Oklahoma (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
FEB. 13 – KENTUCKY (4 p.m. on ESPN)
Feb. 17 – at Ole Miss (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
FEB. 20 – ALABAMA (2 p.m. on ESPN/2)
FEB. 23 – SOUTH CAROLINA (7 p.m. on SECN)
Feb. 27 – at Texas (6/6:30 p.m. on ESPN/2)
MARCH 2 – MISSISSIPPI STATE (6 p.m. on SECN)
March 6 – at Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/U)
During the 18-game conference docket, the Volunteers play nine contests at 7 p.m. or later, including seven at that exact time. It also has four affairs at 2 p.m., with just two earlier than that. There are 10 games on a Saturday, five on a Wednesday and three on a Tuesday.
Although 12 of its SEC tip times are still to be determined, Tennessee could have as many as 14 league outings on ESPN or ESPN2, up to eight of which could be on ESPN. Four games are slotted for SEC Network, with one listed as ESPN, one as ESPN2, six as ESPN/2, one as ESPN/2/U, one as ESPN/U and four as ESPN2/U.
In regular season non-conference action—including information previously announced—the Volunteers have 12 confirmed tip times. Nine are at 7 p.m. or later, with six at that exact time, while none are before 3 p.m. There are five games on a Tuesday, four on a Friday, two on a Sunday and one each on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Of Tennessee's 14 non-conference games, 13 are on the ESPN family of networks and the other is on FOX. The Volunteers have two tilts slated for ESPN, two for ESPN2, one for ESPN/2, one for ESPN/2/U, three for SEC Network and four for SEC Network+.
In addition to its aforementioned regular season slate, Tennessee has an Oct. 15 exhibition game against Xavier (7 p.m. on SECN+) in and an Oct. 20 exhibition clash at Duke (7 p.m. on ACCN).
The Volunteers' season officially begins Nov. 3 against Wofford (6 p.m. on SECN+). They then play Nov. 9 versus Radford (7 p.m. on SECN) and Nov. 13 against Tennessee State (7 p.m. on SECN+). Twelfth-year head coach Rick Barnes' team caps the homestand with a Nov. 17 matchup with Michigan State (9 p.m. on ESPN2) and a Nov. 20 game versus Coastal Carolina (7 p.m. on SECN+).
Up next for Tennessee is a visit to Las Vegas for the Players Era Men's Championship. It opens competition Nov. 24 against Maryland (3 p.m. on ESPN) and then plays Nov. 26 versus either Iowa State or San Diego State (1:30/9 p.m. on ESPN/2). The team wraps up play at the tournament Nov. 27, with the opponent (Louisville/Oregon/St. John's/Texas Tech), game time (3/5:30/8:30/11 p.m.) and TV network (ESPN/2/U) to be determined.
The Volunteers next play Dec. 1 at home against Florida State (7 p.m. on ESPN2) in the SEC/ACC Challenge, before traveling to Bridgestone Arena to play a Dec. 6 game against NC State (7 p.m. on ESPN) in the The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Nashville. After that is a Dec. 11 outing at Purdue (8 p.m. on FOX).
Barnes' team then concludes non-conference action with a three-game homestand that features a Dec. 16 contest versus Morehead State (8 p.m. on SECN), a Dec. 20 meeting with Marist (4 p.m. on SECN) and a Dec. 29 affair against Norfolk State (7 p.m. on SECN+).
Tennessee starts SEC play Jan. 2 against Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/2) and then plays back-to-back road games, the first Jan. 6 at Auburn (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and the latter Jan. 9 at LSU (8:30 p.m. on SECN). That is followed by consecutive home games, Jan. 13 versus Missouri (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and Jan. 16 against Arkansas (noon on ESPN/2).
Following a midweek bye, the Volunteers play Jan. 23 at Kentucky (2 p.m. on ESPN/2/U) and then Jan. 26 at Texas A&M (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). They finish the month with a Jan. 30 home clash with Florida (8/8:30 on ESPN/2).
The second month of league play opens Feb. 3 by hosting Georgia (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). That precedes two straight road games, Feb. 6 at Missouri (1 p.m. on SECN) and Feb. 10 at Oklahoma (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U).
Tennessee returns to Knoxville for a Feb. 13 meeting with Kentucky (4 p.m. on ESPN) and then plays Feb. 17 at Ole Miss (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U). Up next are back-to-back home affairs, first Feb. 20 versus Alabama (2 p.m. on ESPN2/U) and then Feb. 23 against South Carolina (7 p.m. on SECN).
After that, the Volunteers take the court Feb. 27 at Texas (6/6:30 p.m. on ESPN/2). They wrap up the home slate March 2 against Mississippi State (6 p.m. on SECN) and then conclude the regular season March 6 at Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/U).
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
FULL 2026-27 SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and subject to change)
Oct. 15 – XAVIER [Exhib.] (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Oct. 20 – at Duke [Exhib.] (7 p.m. on ACCN)
Nov. 3 – WOFFORD (6 p.m. on SECN)
Nov. 9 – RADFORD (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 13 – TENNESSEE STATE (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 17 – MICHIGAN STATE (9 p.m. on ESPN2)
Nov. 20 – COASTAL CAROLINA (7 p.m. on SECN+)
Nov. 24 – vs. Maryland [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (3 p.m. on ESPN)
Nov. 26 – vs. Iowa State/San Diego State [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (1:30/9 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Nov. 27 – vs. TBD [Players Era Men's Championship – Las Vegas] (TBD on ESPN/2/U)
Dec. 1 – FLORIDA STATE [SEC/ACC Challenge] (7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Dec. 6 – vs. NC State [The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Nashville, Tenn.] (7 p.m. on ESPN)
Dec. 11 – at Purdue (8 p.m. on FOX)
Dec. 16 – MOREHEAD STATE (8 p.m. on SECN)
Dec. 20 – MARIST (4 p.m. on SECN)
Dec. 29 – NORFOLK STATE (7 p.m. on SECN+)
JAN. 2 – VANDERBILT (2 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Jan. 6 – at Auburn (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
Jan. 9 – at LSU (8:30 p.m. on SECN)
JAN. 13 – MISSOURI (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
JAN. 16 – ARKANSAS (12 p.m. on ESPN/2)
Jan. 23 – at Kentucky (2 p.m. on ESPN/2/U)
Jan. 26 – at Texas A&M (7 p.m. on ESPN/2)
JAN. 30 – FLORIDA (8/8:30 p.m. on ESPN/2)
FEB. 3 – GEORGIA ( 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Feb. 6 – at Missouri (1 p.m. on SECN)
Feb. 10 – at Oklahoma (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
FEB. 13 – KENTUCKY (4 p.m. on ESPN)
Feb. 17 – at Ole Miss (7 p.m. on ESPN2/U)
FEB. 20 – ALABAMA (2 p.m. on ESPN/2)
FEB. 23 – SOUTH CAROLINA (7 p.m. on SECN)
Feb. 27 – at Texas (6/6:30 p.m. on ESPN/2)
MARCH 2 – MISSISSIPPI STATE (6 p.m. on SECN)
March 6 – at Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/U)
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, September 22
Tuesday, September 22
Thursday, August 27
