Tennessee football fans, mark your calendars-spring is coming early in Knoxville.
The Vols are set to kick off spring practices on March 16, giving Josh Heupel and his staff their first real look at the 2026 squad. And for fans itching to get a glimpse of what’s ahead, the annual Orange & White Game is locked in for April 11 at Neyland Stadium. Admission will be free, and while kickoff time is still to be announced, expect a healthy crowd ready to see the next wave of Tennessee talent take the field.
This spring will be especially important as the Vols look to build off a solid 2025 campaign and reassert themselves in the ever-intensifying SEC landscape. Heupel enters his sixth year at the helm with a 45-20 overall record (24-16 in SEC play) since taking over in 2021.
Last season, Tennessee finished 8-5 and 4-4 in conference play, following up their 2024 run to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. That postseason appearance was a milestone, but now the challenge is sustaining that level-or surpassing it.
Looking ahead to the fall, Tennessee opens its 2026 season at home on September 5 against Furman. The Vols' home slate is loaded, with marquee matchups against Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, and Kennesaw State all coming to Neyland. That’s a gauntlet that will test Tennessee’s depth, development, and consistency week after week.
On the road, the Vols will face a tough SEC road schedule that includes trips to Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and in-state rival Vanderbilt. Each of those games brings its own challenges, especially with the SEC's ever-growing competitiveness and the continued integration of Texas into the conference.
With spring ball just weeks away, attention now turns to roster development, positional battles, and the emergence of new leaders. Whether it’s a young quarterback pushing for reps or a defensive unit looking to take the next step, these practices will lay the groundwork for what Tennessee hopes is another playoff-caliber season.
April 11 will offer a first look-but the real work starts March 16.