How To Watch Tennessee Volunteers Men’s Basketball in 2025
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Sports Editor Taylor Kujawa, our resident TV expert with over eight years of covering sports.
A look at the 2025–2026 Vols basketball season
The Tennessee Volunteers are coming off a historic, 30-win season that ended in a second straight trip to the Elite Eight. But the cost of that success was high. The Vols had to replace their entire star backcourt, including the program’s engine, Zakai Zeigler, and All-American scorer Chaz Lanier, who set the school’s single-season three-point record. Replacing that kind of leadership and production is the biggest challenge head coach Rick Barnes has faced in years.
But this is Tennessee, and expectations don’t slow down. The excitement is palpable for the new backcourt, led by East Tennessee native Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who comes home from Maryland to run the point. He’s joined by five-star freshman and potential 2026 lottery pick Nate Ament, while big man Felix Okpara anchors the defense. Their mission? Break the Elite Eight ceiling and get to the program’s first-ever Final Four.
Following this new-look squad means navigating a wide array of channels, from the full ESPN family (ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network) to national spots on TNT and truTV. I’ve broken down the complete 2025–2026 Tennessee basketball TV schedule and the best streaming options to watch every single game.
2025–2026 Tennessee men’s basketball TV schedule
The Vols open the regular season on November 3 against Mercer. The non-conference slate is tough, featuring a massive Elite Eight rematch against Houston in Las Vegas on November 25 and a trip to Syracuse for the ACC/SEC Challenge on December 2.
SEC play begins on January 3 at Arkansas and features massive rivalry games against Kentucky and Alabama. While those are some of the must-see games, there are no easy nights in this conference. It all leads to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, which begins on March 11.
Check out the full Tennessee TV schedule in the table below, featuring tip-off times and channel listings.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Bears | Monday, Nov. 3 | 7:00 p.m. | SECN+ |
| Northern Kentucky Norse | Saturday, Nov. 8 | 3:00 p.m. | SECN+ |
| North Florida Ospreys | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 7:00 p.m. | SECN+ |
| Rice Owls | Monday, Nov. 17 | 8:30 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Tennessee State Tigers | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 7:00 p.m. | SECN+ |
| At Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Monday, Nov. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Houston (#2) | Tuesday, Nov. 25 | 6:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Syracuse Orange | Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Illinois (#17) | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Louisville Cardinals (#11) | Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | SECN+ |
| South Carolina State Bulldogs | Tuesday, Dec. 30 | 8:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| At Arkansas (#14) | Saturday, Jan. 3 | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Texas | Tuesday, Jan. 6 | TBD | TBA |
| At Florida (#3) | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 12:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Texas A&M Aggies | Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Kentucky (#9) | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| At Alabama (#15) | Saturday, Jan. 24 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| At Georgia Bulldogs | Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 7:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Auburn (#20) | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Ole Miss Rebels | Tuesday, Feb. 3 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| At Kentucky (#9) | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| At Mississippi State Bulldogs | Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 9:00 p.m. | TBA |
| LSU Tigers | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 6:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Oklahoma Sooners | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | TBD | TBA |
| At Vanderbilt Commodores | Saturday, Feb. 21 | TBD | TBA |
| At Missouri Tigers | Tuesday, Feb. 24 | 9:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Alabama (#15) | Saturday, Feb. 28 | TBD | TBA |
| At South Carolina Gamecocks | Tuesday, March 3 | 6:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | Saturday, March 7 | 2:00 p.m. | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching Tennessee men’s basketball
To get every Vols game, you need a TV plan that covers the ESPN and TNT Sports networks. The only tricky channel in that pack is SECN+, which is accessible in the ESPN app to anyone with a TV provider that includes the main SEC Network.
My top recommendation for Tennessee fans is Hulu + Live TV. It’s the most complete package, as it includes all the core ESPN and TNT Sports channels, plus other nice-to-haves from CBS Sports and FOX Sports. The biggest advantage, though, is that Hulu + Live TV integrates the SECN+ games directly into its app. You can also add the Vols to your “My Stuff” watchlist, and the unlimited DVR will record every game for you.
If you don’t want a single, pricey live TV package, you can go the à la carte route. A standalone ESPN Unlimited subscription covers all ESPN channels (including SECN+). You can also get an HBO Max Standard or Premium plan to stream any games airing on TNT, TBS, and truTV. I’d just recommend adding an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to your setup to catch any CBS games during March Madness.
How to watch Tennessee men’s basketball FAQ
Where can I watch Tennessee men's basketball for free?
Unfortunately, most Vols games aren't available for free over the air. If a game airs on a local affiliate like CBS (which can happen during the SEC or NCAA Tournaments), you might get it with a digital antenna. Otherwise, your next best option is a free trial from services like YouTube TV or Fubo.
How can I stream Tennessee basketball without cable?
The most complete way to watch Vols basketball without cable is to use a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV to get the ESPN and TNT Sports channels. You can also "leapfrog" between cheaper, standalone subscriptions to ESPN Unlimited and HBO Max.
Can I watch Tennessee basketball on ESPN+?
ESPN+ content is now available in the newly branded ESPN Select streaming service, which is the lower tier of ESPN Unlimited. You can watch most of Tennessee's SECN+ broadcasts with an ESPN Select subscription, but I recommend the ESPN Unlimited plan for its access to every traditional ESPN channel.
How can I listen to the Tennessee basketball game on the radio?
You can listen to Tennessee basketball games on Vol Network affiliate stations or stream for free on the official Tennessee Athletics app. In the Knoxville area, the team's flagship station is WNML (99.1 FM or 990 AM).
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com editorial team cross-referenced the official Tennessee men’s basketball schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, we selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
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.
