Break out the black threads and crank up the energy in Knoxville-Tennessee Basketball is going full Dark Mode this Saturday night.
The Vols are set to rock their fan-favorite Dark Mode uniforms for a high-profile SEC showdown against LSU at the Food City Center. It’s the second time this season Tennessee will wear the sleek black-and-orange look, but the first time fans will get to see it under the lights at home. And with a sold-out crowd expected, the atmosphere should be electric.
This isn’t the first time the Vols have turned heads in Dark Mode. The uniforms made their season debut back in early December during a road clash with Syracuse.
While that outing ended in a loss, the look itself has become a fan favorite-and it carries a bit of history. Tennessee first unveiled the Dark Mode uniforms in a 2024 home game against Syracuse, and that one was a statement win.
The Vols ran away with it, 96-70, behind a 26-point explosion from Chaz Lanier, with Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey chipping in 14 and 12, respectively.
Now, the blackout look returns to Knoxville, and the timing couldn’t be better. The LSU game is officially sold out-Tennessee’s sixth sellout of the season. That includes five regular-season games and one preseason exhibition, a clear sign that the Vols have captured the attention of their fanbase in a big way.
It all started back in late October when Tennessee packed the house for a preseason exhibition against Duke. Since then, the Vols have sold out marquee matchups against Louisville (Dec.
16), Kentucky (Jan. 17), and Auburn (Jan. 31).
The Feb. 28 clash with Alabama is already a confirmed sellout, and the March 7 regular-season finale against Vanderbilt is trending in the same direction, with only a limited number of tickets remaining.
On the court, Tennessee is coming off a bounce-back win over Mississippi State after a tough road loss to Kentucky. That victory pushed the Vols to 17-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC play, good for fourth place in the conference standings-two games behind league-leader Florida.
Saturday’s opponent, LSU, enters the matchup with a 14-10 record. According to ESPN Analytics, Tennessee has an 87.3% chance to come out on top.
Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. ET, and with the Vols in Dark Mode and the Food City Center packed to the rafters, expect a charged-up environment that could give Tennessee a real edge.
So forget the Valentine’s Day reds and pinks. In Knoxville this weekend, it’s all about black, orange, and a whole lot of noise.