Tipoff times, TV details for Tennessee men’s basketball season released

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) As Rick Barnes and the Tennessee men’s basketball team prepare for a highly-anticipated preseason exhibition against Duke, the Southeastern Conference announced TV designations and scheduling details for the upcoming season.

Eighteen of Tennessee’s SEC league games will be shown across various ESPN networks, including at least three on ESPN and five on SEC Network. Thirteen of those 18 will tip off at 6 p.m. or later, including six beginning at 8:30 or 9 p.m.

The Volunteers will play the majority of their league games on Saturday. Six will take place on Tuesday and two will be on Wednesday.

Fans will get their first opportunity to watch the Vols on television when the Duke Blue Devils come to Knoxville for an exhibition on Sunday, October 26. It will be begin at 7 p.m. and be shown on ESPN2.

The season will officially get underway on Monday, November 3 at 7 p.m. when Tennessee hosts Mercer. It will be available on SEC Network+.

Food City Center will welcome Texas and Oklahoma for their first-ever conference matchups against the Vols this season. The regular season will conclude at home on Saturday, March 7 against Vanderbilt.

Full 2025-2026 Schedule (Home games bolded)

• Oct. 26 – Duke [Exhibition] (7 p.m. on ESPN2) 
• Nov. 3 – Mercer (7 p.m. on SECN+) 
• Nov. 8 – Northern Kentucky (3 p.m. on SECN+) 
• Nov. 12 – North Florida (7 p.m. on SECN+) 
• Nov. 17 – Rice (8:30 p.m. on SECN) 
• Nov. 20 – Tennessee State (7 p.m. on SECN+) 
• Nov. 24 – vs. Rutgers (1 p.m. on TNT & HBO Max) 
• Nov. 25 – vs. Houston (6 p.m. on TNT & HBO Max) 
• Nov. 26/27 – vs. TBD (TBD on TNT/truTV & HBO Max) 
• Dec. 2 – at Syracuse (7 p.m. on ESPN2) 
• Dec. 6 – vs. Illinois (8 p.m. on ESPN) 
• Dec. 16 – Louisville (7 p.m. on ESPN) 
• Dec. 21 – Gardner-Webb (3 p.m. on SECN+) 
• Dec. 30 – South Carolina State (8 p.m. on SECN) 
• Jan. 3 – at Arkansas (3 p.m. on ESPN2) 
• Jan. 6 – Texas (9 p.m. on ESPN/2) 
• Jan. 10 – at Florida (12 p.m. on ESPN/2) 
• Jan. 13 – Texas A&M (7 p.m. on SECN) 
• Jan. 17 – Kentucky (12 p.m. on ESPN) 
• Jan. 24 – at Alabama (8:30 p.m. on ESPN/2) 
• Jan. 27 – at Georgia (7 p.m. on SECN) 
• Jan. 31 – Auburn (8:30 p.m. on ESPN) 
• Feb. 3 – Ole Miss (7 p.m. on ESPN2) 
• Feb. 7 – at Kentucky (8:30 p.m. on ESPN) 
• Feb. 11 – at Mississippi State (9 p.m. on ESPN2/U) 
• Feb. 14 – LSU (6 p.m. on SECN) 
• Feb. 18 – Oklahoma (7 p.m. on ESPN/2/U) 
• Feb. 21 – at Vanderbilt (2/2:30 p.m. on ESPN/2) 
• Feb. 24 – at Missouri (9 p.m. on SECN) 
• Feb. 28 – Alabama (6/6:30 p.m. on ESPN/2) 
• March 3 – at South Carolina (6 p.m. on SECN) 
• March 7 – Vanderbilt (2 p.m. on ESPN/2/U) 

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.