Tennessee fans heading to Neyland Stadium for the Sept. 26 showdown with Texas need to take one extra step before picking out their game-day gear: check the color assignment.
The familiar Checker Neyland setup is changing this season, which means the orange-and-white pattern won’t line up the way it has in recent years. Fans who have shown up in the same color for the last few Checker Neyland games shouldn’t assume their section still matches that routine. The safest move is to confirm the assignment at CheckerNeyland.com.
Checker Neyland works by assigning sections either orange or white to create the stadium-wide checkerboard look. Those assignments are based on seat location, and this year the orange and white sections are swapping for the Texas game. That makes the website check especially important for fans who may have been locked into the same color since the early part of the Josh Heupel era.
The matchup itself should bring plenty of attention. No.
13 Tennessee, 3-0, hosts No. 1 Texas, 3-0, on Sept. 26 at noon ET on ABC.
ESPN’s “College Gameday” will be on site from 9 a.m. to noon, starting on the lawn of Ayres Hall before moving into Neyland Stadium for the final hour.
There should be no shortage of star power around the game, either. Peyton Manning is expected to be there to watch the Vols take on his nephew, Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Longhorns fan Matthew McConaughey could also be in attendance.
With that kind of spotlight on Knoxville, Tennessee’s checkerboard crowd will be part of the show. Fans just need to make sure they’re wearing the right color before they arrive.
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern At The Worst Time
DeSean Bishops status is suddenly worth watching in Knoxville after the running back went down with a hip injury in the first half against Kennesaw State, then tried to gut it out again in the third quarter before leaving for good because of the pain. Tennessee still found ways to stay on schedule with Daune Morris handling additional carries and punching in a touchdown, but the game also made it clear how much the backfield depends on Bishops availability when the Volunteers want to stay balanced.
Now the attention shifts to a much bigger test against Texas, where every injury on the depth chart feels a little more expensive. Bishops ability to get back on the field, and how effective he can be if he does, will be one of the quieter but more important storylines for Tennessee as it starts preparing for a matchup that already looked demanding before the hip became an issue. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Still Has Tennessee Fans Doing The Unthinkable
A small but determined contingent of Tennessee fans made the trip to Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday night, and they had one mission in mind: showing up in Vols gear to pull against Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. The group of seven paid $600 apiece for their seats and settled in for the Ole Miss-LSU matchup, even with Tennessee playing Kennesaw State at the same time.
By halftime, the scene had become even more layered for Tennessee followers keeping tabs on both games. Ole Miss was ahead of LSU 24-7, while Tennessee was in control against Kennesaw State, 21-3, leaving the Vols faithful with plenty to watch and an old rivalry thread still clearly unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Heads Into Texas With One New Reason To Worry
Tennessees 42-9 win over Kennesaw State gave the Volunteers another comfortable result, and there were plenty of encouraging signs in the latest tune-up before the trip to Texas. Faizon Brandon accounted for two touchdowns, while the backfield continued to be part of the offenses identity with DeSean Bishop and Daune Morris both in the mix. It was the sort of game that should have helped settle things down for a team trying to build momentum and keep its attention on the bigger challenge ahead.
DeSean Bishops hip issue, though, adds another layer to watch as Tennessee prepares for a road test against Texas. Even in a game that ended with little drama, injuries can change the conversation quickly, especially when the Volunteers are looking for continuity and depth in the run game. The overall performance was still positive, but heading into Austin, Tennessee has one more thing to monitor before the stakes rise again. [Read more 🡒]