You had a feeling it was coming sooner rather than later. On Thursday, the breaking news finally arrived that starting with the 2026 season, there will now be nine conference games on the schedule for Tennessee football and the rest of the SEC.
A message is no question being sent by commissioner Greg Sankey. The nine games aren't the only change that has people talking, though. In addition, part of the new plan includes teams facing three teams every single season to keep rivalries alive. From our chair, it's a no-brainer that these three opponents can't go anywhere for the Vols moving forward: Vanderbilt, Alabama and Kentucky.