Fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance, excitement is high for University of Tennessee Football. Head coach Josh Heupel returns for his fifth season to lead the Tennessee Volunteers through the demanding Southeastern Conference, where the roar of over 100,000 fans at Neyland Stadium provides one of the nation’s best home-field advantages.
This season, however, presents a new challenge for the Vols. Following their brutal first-round playoff loss to eventual champion Ohio State, the team faces significant turnover, particularly on offense. With a difficult schedule ahead and many new faces in key positions, the big question is whether this Vols roster can replicate last year’s success.
For fans eager to watch Tennessee football all season long, you can expect to find most Vols games airing across ESPN’s suite of channels, including ABC, ESPN+, and SEC Network. In this guide, I’ll break down the full TV schedule and best streaming services so you can watch every Vols matchup with ease.
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2025 Tennessee football TV schedule
The Tennessee Volunteers start the 2025 season with the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse in Atlanta on August 30. After returning home for a matchup against East Tennessee State, the Vols face their first major test of the year when they host SEC rival Georgia at Neyland Stadium. This early showdown will set the tone for a demanding conference schedule.
The heart of the Vols’ schedule is a gauntlet of historic rivalries, highlighted by the “Third Saturday in October” on the road against Alabama. The back half of the season also includes tough road trips to Kentucky and Florida, a significant home game against Oklahoma, and the traditional regular-season finale against in-state rival Vanderbilt.
You can find Tennessee Football’s complete TV schedule below, featuring kickoff times and channel listings.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET)/Result | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse Orange | Saturday, Aug. 30 | W 45–26 | ABC |
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers | Saturday, Sept. 6 | W 72–17 | ESPN+, SECN+ |
| Georgia Bulldogs (#6) | Saturday, Sept. 13 | L 41–44 | ABC |
| UAB Blazers | Saturday, Sept. 20 | W 56–24 | SEC Network |
| At Mississippi State Bulldogs | Saturday, Sept. 27 | W 41–34 | SEC Network |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network |
| At Alabama Crimson Tide (#8) | Saturday, Oct. 18 | TBD | TBA |
| At Kentucky Wildcats | Saturday, Oct. 25 | TBD | TBA |
| Oklahoma Sooners (#6) | Saturday, Nov. 1 | TBD | TBA |
| New Mexico State Aggies | Saturday, Nov. 15 | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network |
| At Florida Gators | Saturday, Nov. 22 | TBD | TBA |
| Vanderbilt Commodores (#20) | Saturday, Nov. 29 | TBD | TBA |
Data effective as of post date. All listed rankings are from the AP Top 25 poll at the time of the matchup.
Best TV plans for watching Tennessee Volunteers football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Finding every Tennessee Volunteers game on TV can be a challenge, with kickoffs spread across national networks like ABC, premium channels like ESPN, and conference-specific networks. After comparing over 13 options, I recommend Hulu + Live TV as the best all-around choice for most college football fans.
Its plans include the essential channels for watching the Vols, as well as the added value of ESPN+ and unlimited DVR storage at no extra cost. This combination covers the vast majority of matchups, but it’s essential to be aware of Hulu’s limitations.
If you follow college football beyond the Tennessee schedule, you’ll miss games exclusive to regional sports networks (RSNs) or other streaming platforms. For instance, some Big Ten games are exclusive to Peacock.
How to watch football FAQ
Where can I watch the Tennessee Volunteers for free?
You can stream Tennessee Volunteers games with a DIRECTV free trial, but be aware of local blackouts and games exclusive to other platforms. You can also watch any games airing on your local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC station for free with a simple digital antenna.
Where can I stream Tennessee Volunteers games if I don’t have cable?
Our favorite way to watch the Tennessee Volunteers without cable is through Hulu + Live TV. The streaming service has every core college football channel, including ESPN+. But you may still need a separate subscription for games exclusive to Peacock (for Big Ten games) or FloFootball (for smaller conferences).
Can I watch Tennessee Volunteers football on ESPN+?
Yes, you can watch select Tennessee Volunteers games on ESPN+. A few matchups involving the Vols will appear on ESPN+ during the 2025 season.
How do I watch Tennessee Volunteers football if I live out of state?
For out-of-state fans, most Tennessee Volunteers games air nationally, so a good live TV streaming service will have you covered. Of course, some college football matchups have unique broadcast rights. That’s why it’s always best to check our TV schedule above for specific channel information.
Why you should trust us
This guide and its TV provider recommendations are the result of in-depth research by Taylor Kujawa, CableTV.com’s sports editor. He analyzed the full 2025 Tennessee broadcast schedule and compared it against the channel lineups of 13 major TV providers. This analysis helped Taylor identify the services that offer the most value and comprehensive coverage for Vols fans this season.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
