University of Tennessee Athletics
Standard Nuclear Presenting Partner For "Salute To Service" Games
September 03, 2026 | Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball
Tennessee Athletics welcomes Standard Nuclear, a reactor-agnostic producer of TRISO nuclear fuel, as the presenting partner for "Salute to Service" efforts in celebration of Tennessee's ultimate Volunteers during select competitions throughout the 2026-2027 athletic year.
"Standard Nuclear was founded to strengthen America's energy independence and security, and that mission starts right here in Tennessee," said Thomas Hendrix, Founder and Executive Chairman of Standard Nuclear. "As a Veteran founder, and with so many talented Veteran teammates, I know first-hand the energy and impact those who have served can make on any organization. We're proud to stand with Tennessee Athletics in honoring the veterans and military families across this state."
This year's "Salute to Service" will include special recognitions, ceremonies, celebrations and opportunities for veteran and military families to attend a football, men's basketball, women's basketball, soccer and volleyball game free of charge (additional details provided below). More information about Spring sport Salute to Service efforts will be released in early 2027.
Since the introduction of the Salute to Service recognition in 2018, Tennessee Athletics has welcomed thousands of military and veterans from across the southeast to numerous athletics events as part of overall efforts.
2026 Salute to Service Games
Football – versus Kennesaw State on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:45 p.m.
Soccer – versus Mississippi State on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
Volleyball versus Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and versus Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Women's Basketball – November home basketball game to be announced
Men's Basketball – November home basketball game to be announced
Football
Local and state active/guard/reserve military units and local veteran organizations that Tennessee Athletics has identified as longstanding partners will be invited to the Tennessee vs. Kennesaw State football game on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tennessee Athletics will communicate with these units, and groups directly. Additional activities for military members and fans will take place at the Standard Nuclear tent in Vol Village before the Kennesaw State football game. Vol Village is FREE for all fans with or without a game ticket and opens at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The Pride of the Southland Marching Band will perform a special halftime show that will feature a contracting ceremony with cadets of the University of Tennessee's Army ROTC battalion and Air Force ROTC detachment. Plans for a pregame flyover are in the works but are dependent on weather conditions and other factors.
The Vol Walk also will be led by representation from each of the five military branches.
Men's and Women's Basketball
During Salute to Service, current military members, veterans and first responders may present a military ID, DD 214, license certification, state-issued ID, badge or other employer-issued identification at ticket locations outside of Food City Center for complimentary admission to the designated men's basketball and/or women's basketball games for you and your immediate family (limit of 4 to 6, based on availability).
This year's Salute to Service basketball games will take place in November, with game specifics announced closer to the start of basketball season.
In addition to complimentary admission for active military and veterans, free parking and shuttle service is available for Vol and Lady Vol basketball games from UT's Ag Campus.
Volleyball
Current military members and veterans may present their military ID or DD 214 at Food City Center's Gate B for complimentary admission for themselves and their immediate families to the Lady Vols' volleyball match versus Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.) and against Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 8 (2 p.m.). Parking for Lady Vols volleyball is free.
Soccer
Admission to Tennessee Soccer matches is free for all fans. The Lady Vol Soccer match against Mississippi State on Thursday, Sept. 24 (7 p.m.) will feature a Salute to Service themed give-away at the gate and a recognition at halftime with members of the University of Tennessee's Veteran Student Success Center.
About Standard Nuclear
Standard Nuclear's mission is to reliably deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power at scale, enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy. Headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the company is focused on the large-scale production of advanced nuclear fuel and power systems. As the only U.S. company with industrial-scale TRISO fuel fabrication facilities today, Standard Nuclear produces a robust, high-performance fuel essential to advanced nuclear reactors for terrestrial, national security, and space applications. The Company's internationally recognized technical team, together with its operation and ownership of facilities licensed for large-scale TRISO fuel manufacturing, positions Standard Nuclear to deliver advanced nuclear fuel to a rapidly growing industry and to strengthen the domestic supply chain underpinning U.S. national security. For more information, visit: https://www.standardnuclear.com/
"Standard Nuclear was founded to strengthen America's energy independence and security, and that mission starts right here in Tennessee," said Thomas Hendrix, Founder and Executive Chairman of Standard Nuclear. "As a Veteran founder, and with so many talented Veteran teammates, I know first-hand the energy and impact those who have served can make on any organization. We're proud to stand with Tennessee Athletics in honoring the veterans and military families across this state."
This year's "Salute to Service" will include special recognitions, ceremonies, celebrations and opportunities for veteran and military families to attend a football, men's basketball, women's basketball, soccer and volleyball game free of charge (additional details provided below). More information about Spring sport Salute to Service efforts will be released in early 2027.
Since the introduction of the Salute to Service recognition in 2018, Tennessee Athletics has welcomed thousands of military and veterans from across the southeast to numerous athletics events as part of overall efforts.
2026 Salute to Service Games
Football – versus Kennesaw State on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:45 p.m.
Soccer – versus Mississippi State on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
Volleyball versus Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and versus Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Women's Basketball – November home basketball game to be announced
Men's Basketball – November home basketball game to be announced
Football
Local and state active/guard/reserve military units and local veteran organizations that Tennessee Athletics has identified as longstanding partners will be invited to the Tennessee vs. Kennesaw State football game on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tennessee Athletics will communicate with these units, and groups directly. Additional activities for military members and fans will take place at the Standard Nuclear tent in Vol Village before the Kennesaw State football game. Vol Village is FREE for all fans with or without a game ticket and opens at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The Pride of the Southland Marching Band will perform a special halftime show that will feature a contracting ceremony with cadets of the University of Tennessee's Army ROTC battalion and Air Force ROTC detachment. Plans for a pregame flyover are in the works but are dependent on weather conditions and other factors.
The Vol Walk also will be led by representation from each of the five military branches.
Men's and Women's Basketball
During Salute to Service, current military members, veterans and first responders may present a military ID, DD 214, license certification, state-issued ID, badge or other employer-issued identification at ticket locations outside of Food City Center for complimentary admission to the designated men's basketball and/or women's basketball games for you and your immediate family (limit of 4 to 6, based on availability).
This year's Salute to Service basketball games will take place in November, with game specifics announced closer to the start of basketball season.
In addition to complimentary admission for active military and veterans, free parking and shuttle service is available for Vol and Lady Vol basketball games from UT's Ag Campus.
Volleyball
Current military members and veterans may present their military ID or DD 214 at Food City Center's Gate B for complimentary admission for themselves and their immediate families to the Lady Vols' volleyball match versus Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.) and against Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 8 (2 p.m.). Parking for Lady Vols volleyball is free.
Soccer
Admission to Tennessee Soccer matches is free for all fans. The Lady Vol Soccer match against Mississippi State on Thursday, Sept. 24 (7 p.m.) will feature a Salute to Service themed give-away at the gate and a recognition at halftime with members of the University of Tennessee's Veteran Student Success Center.
About Standard Nuclear
Standard Nuclear's mission is to reliably deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power at scale, enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy. Headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the company is focused on the large-scale production of advanced nuclear fuel and power systems. As the only U.S. company with industrial-scale TRISO fuel fabrication facilities today, Standard Nuclear produces a robust, high-performance fuel essential to advanced nuclear reactors for terrestrial, national security, and space applications. The Company's internationally recognized technical team, together with its operation and ownership of facilities licensed for large-scale TRISO fuel manufacturing, positions Standard Nuclear to deliver advanced nuclear fuel to a rapidly growing industry and to strengthen the domestic supply chain underpinning U.S. national security. For more information, visit: https://www.standardnuclear.com/
Thursday, September 03
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Tuesday, September 01
