The SEC’s new football schedule format has sparked intense debate, and Tennessee fans are right in the middle of it. With the league officially moving toward a nine-game conference schedule, ESPN’s Chris Low revealed each team’s three permanent rivals for the next four years—and the Vols’ lineup includes Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky.
That means Florida, Tennessee’s longtime rival in the SEC East, will not be a permanent opponent. Instead, the SEC has opted to preserve Tennessee–Kentucky while moving Florida into a rotation where it will consistently face Georgia, LSU, and South Carolina.
For many in Vol Nation, this decision lands with mixed emotions. Alabama and Vanderbilt are no surprise—both rivalries carry generations of tradition, with the annual Third Saturday in October against Alabama and the in-state clash against Vanderbilt locked in as must-play games. But the omission of Florida, a rivalry that defined much of the SEC East era, leaves fans with questions about how tradition was weighed against the league’s push for balance and fairness.
The SEC’s scheduling committee has emphasized that competitive equity was a key factor in determining the permanent matchups. Powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU were carefully distributed to avoid overly difficult slates for certain programs. While this means certain rivalries, like Tennessee–Florida, won’t appear annually, there’s still a chance they could continue on a rotating basis over the next four years.
Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White has already confirmed that the Vols will play five home games in 2026 and four in 2027 under the new format. That suggests Tennessee will host Alabama and Kentucky at home next year, leaving three additional home matchups against rotating conference opponents.
Still, fans are divided. For some, keeping Kentucky as a permanent rival feels underwhelming compared to the high stakes and drama of the Florida series. For others, the change provides fresh variety while maintaining two of the Vols’ most meaningful rivalries in Alabama and Vanderbilt.
The full SEC schedule, including rotating matchups, will be unveiled during a primetime television special on the SEC Network and ESPN2. That release will finally give Tennessee—and the rest of the SEC—a complete look at how their future conference slates will shape up in the expanded 16-team league.
One thing is certain: while some traditions may fade, the Vols’ path through the SEC will remain one of the toughest and most closely watched in all of college football.
