Arch Manning is about to walk into a place he’s never been, and he already knows what’s waiting for him.
When No. 1 Texas visits No.
13 Tennessee on Sept. 26, the Longhorns quarterback will be in Knoxville for the first time in his life. The setting is a sold-out Neyland Stadium, the kind of stage that turns every snap into a test, and Manning is not expecting any family-style reception from Vols fans.
“I’m definitely excited to play in a hostile environment, SEC road game,” Manning said. “That's what it's all about.”
The matchup itself has some weight beyond the rankings. Texas and Tennessee have not played since 1969, and this one sold out back in July. It will also be the first time the teams have met in Knoxville, with all three previous games coming at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
For Manning, the trip carries a strange personal twist. He is the nephew of Peyton Manning, the Tennessee legend who finished his college career in 1997 as UT and the SEC’s all-time leading passer with 11,201 yards. But Arch was born too late to see that run, and he said on Sept. 21 that he has never stepped foot in Knoxville.
Even with a scholarship offer from Tennessee coach Josh Heupel while he was coming out of Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Manning never took a visit to campus before choosing Texas. He was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023, and Tennessee was part of that recruiting picture - just not part of his final decision.
Texas has spent the week trying to make sure nothing in Knoxville feels unfamiliar. The Longhorns have been playing “Rocky Top” repeatedly in practice as they prepare for the noise and the chaos.
“Yeah, we played it a lot this week. (It's) not bad,” Manning said.
With ESPN’s “College Gameday” around the SEC opener, Manning said he’s eager to see how Texas handles its first road game of the season.
“It’s just kind of an us against the world mentality,” Manning said. “We've got a tight knit group here, so excited to see how we do on the road.”
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Tennessee Just Lost A Trusted Piece At The Worst Possible Time
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Davis has already said he plans to return to Tennessee for a fifth season, which gives the Volunteers something to build around once he is healthy again. For now, though, tight ends coach Alec Abeln says he believes the rest of the group is ready to step in as Tennessee turns its attention to an upcoming matchup with Texas. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Biggest Home Games Are Creating A Brutal Knoxville Squeeze
The calendar is barely into the heart of football season, but Knoxville is already feeling the pressure around Tennessees biggest home dates. With No. 1 Texas coming to Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26, lodging near campus has become scarce, and the remaining rooms are carrying a premium that has been hard to miss for fans trying to make plans.
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Tennessees Freshman QB Faces His First Real SEC Measuring Stick
Through three games, Faizon Brandon has given Tennessee plenty to like from a freshman quarterback adjusting to the speed of college football. He has completed 41 of 64 passes for 552 yards and six touchdowns, added 137 rushing yards, and found the end zone three more times on the ground, production that has helped steady the Vols offense early in the 2026 season.
The next test is a different kind of reveal. ESPNs updated Total QBR rankings put Brandon sixth in the SEC with a 79.0 rating, and Tennessee is about to open league play against No. 1 Texas, where senior quarterback Arch Manning has already piled up 664 passing yards and seven touchdowns. For Brandon, the question now is less about promising starts and more about how that growth holds up when the Vols step into an SEC opener with national stakes attached. [Read more 🡒]