Tennessee Volunteers prepare for 2026 football season opener against Furman
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 11, 2026, 8:09 PM
Last updated Aug 11, 2026

The Tennessee Volunteers are set to start their 2026 football season against FCS Furman on September 5. Following a disappointing 2025 season with eight wins, the program aims to rebound through new player additions and a fresh defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles. Key questions surround the quarterback competition between George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon, the team's ability to avoid upset losses, and improvements on defense, after ranking low in several categories last season. The team seeks to establish its identity ahead of the season opener.
- •Tennessee opens the season on September 5 against Furman.
- •The Vols finished 2025 with eight wins, down from recent seasons.
- •Key quarterback battle between George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon.
- •Jim Knowles replaces Tim Banks as the defensive coordinator.
- •The team aims to avoid upset losses in SEC play.
- 8:09 PMYahoo Sports — 3 biggest questions for Tennessee football in 2026
"The Tennessee Volunteers are less than a month away from kicking off the 2026 season. The team is set to take on FCS Furman to open the season on September 5. 2025 was definitely a disappointing season for the Vols, all things considered. The team finished with eight wins after winning 10, nine, and 11 […]
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