Tennessee hosts Furman for the 2026 season opener at Neyland Stadium

No. 18 Tennessee opens its 2026 football season Saturday against Furman at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT, with the game available on SEC Network+. Furman enters the matchup with a 1-0 record after defeating Anderson University 20-3 on August 27. In that game, quarterback Jake Garcia completed 15 of 28 passes for 183 yards and added 51 rushing yards. Tennessee holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series against the Paladins, with the previous meetings occurring in 1941 and 1942. ESPN's Matchup Predictor gives the Volunteers a 99% probability of winning the contest, and Nolan Analytics projects a 54-10 final score in favor of Tennessee. Both teams are entering the matchup looking to establish momentum early in the season.

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