The Tennessee Volunteers and their fans now have a set time for the team’s final regular season home game. The Vols are set to face the UTEP Miners at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 23, in Neyland Stadium—an earlier kickoff time that may please many players, even if some fans prefer the energy of night games.
Unlike many high-profile matchups, this game will not air on major cable networks. Instead, it will be available exclusively on ESPN+ or the SEC Network+ channel. This means that fans without streaming access will have to adjust their viewing plans, potentially prompting a smaller broadcast audience than usual.
While some fans may be disappointed by the early kickoff, especially those who enjoy extended tailgating traditions, the earlier start time is a welcome change for certain Vols players. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. shared his preference for afternoon games, explaining that the long wait for night games can drain players’ energy by game time. This sentiment may resonate with other athletes who face the challenge of sustaining high energy levels for evening kickoffs.
So far this season, Tennessee has been primarily slotted for night games, with seven of their nine games kicking off at or after 7:00 p.m. ET. Only the season opener against Chattanooga, which began at 12:45 p.m. ET, and the 3:30 p.m. ET matchup against Alabama provided a break from the late-night trend.
The Vanderbilt game time has yet to be announced and may depend on the outcome of Tennessee’s upcoming showdown with Georgia, another night game set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Regardless of time slot, Tennessee needs strong performances over the next three games to ensure a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
