Tennessee’s matchup with Texas is still weeks away, but the betting line is already turning heads.
DraftKings has the No. 1 Longhorns favored by just 4.5 points when they visit Knoxville on Saturday, September 26, at noon ET on ABC.
That number stands out because Tennessee is sitting at No. 15 in the AP Poll and will have home field, yet the Vols are still the underdog. The moneyline also reflects a relatively tight projection, with Tennessee at +150 and Texas at -180.
The total is set at 56.5 points, which points to a game landing somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-26 Texas. That would put the result right in line with both the spread and the over/under.
The early money, though, is heavily leaning toward the Longhorns. On DraftKings, 80% of the moneyline bets and all of the spread bets are on Texas, even as plenty of fans have been caught off guard by how close the line is.
Texas will have one more game before it reaches Knoxville, a home date with UTSA this week. The Longhorns are coming off their dramatic comeback win over Ohio State, a result that pushed them to No. 1 in the AP Poll. If things go according to plan, they should still be sitting atop the rankings when they arrive in Tennessee.
Before that showdown, the Vols have their full attention on Kennesaw State. Tennessee hosts the Owls on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.
ET on SEC Network and is a 35.5-point favorite. It also brings back former Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack, now in his second year as head coach of Kennesaw State.
In Other News...
Tennessee's Kennesaw State Game Has A Knoxville Twist Fans Will Notice
No. 14 Tennessee gets a familiar-tinged matchup in Week 3 when Kennesaw State comes to Neyland Stadium on SEC Network, with the two programs meeting for the first time. For Vols fans, the interest goes beyond a nonconference game against a new opponent, because this one comes with a Knoxville connection tucked into the Owls roster.
Kennesaw State redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Kinney is a former Bearden High School athlete, giving the trip to Knoxville a little extra meaning. Kinney has already seen game action for the Owls and has handled both field goals and extra points, so even in a game that figures to draw attention for Tennessees side, there is at least one local name worth keeping an eye on once the ball gets kicked. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Now Have A Massive Neyland Change To Debate
A major new development is set to reshape the edge of Tennessee footballs home turf, with 865 Neyland officially announced as an entertainment district and 24-story hotel and residential tower adjacent to Neyland Stadium. The privately funded, $288 million project is slated to bring hotel rooms, luxury residences and condo units to one of the most recognizable corners of Knoxville, along with outdoor plazas, LED displays and a mix of dining and entertainment options.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion projected for 2028-2029, giving fans plenty of time to debate what the area around the stadium will look like once the dust settles. For a place so tied to game days and tradition, the scale of the change is hard to ignore, and the questions around how the new district will fit alongside the existing atmosphere are likely to linger well beyond the announcement. [Read more 🡒]
Which Former Vol Delivered Week 1s Biggest NFL Moment
Opening week of the NFL season turned into a showcase for several former Tennessee standouts, with Josh Palmer delivering the kind of moment that grabs attention well beyond a box score. The Bills receiver came down with the game-winning touchdown, while Trey Smith and Darnell Wright each handled full-time work for their clubs by starting and playing every offensive snap. It was a strong early reminder that Tennessees pipeline to the league still runs through players capable of shaping meaningful games right away.
There was more than one Volunteer footprint across the league, too, as other Tennessee alumni made their debuts or got on the field in season openers. The broader takeaway for Tennessee fans is familiar and encouraging: the programs recent veterans are not just hanging around NFL rosters, they are showing up in roles that matter. Even with one headline moment stealing the spotlight, Week 1 offered a fuller snapshot of how many former Vols are carving out real jobs on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]