Both teams put 3-0 records on the line Saturday at Neyland Stadium as Trump visits Knoxville for the game.
The No. 1 Texas Longhorns travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to play the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. The Texas vs Tennessee matchup features two undefeated teams, with Texas entering as a 4.5-point favorite.
Outlets gave conflicting kickoff times for the game. Fox Sports initially listed the start time as 4 p.m. Eastern, but later noted a 12 p.m. Eastern start. The Hollywood Reporter reported the game airs at 12 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m. Pacific). Security is tight in Knoxville as Trump heads to the city for the game, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Quarterbacks and offensive leaders
Texas stands at 3-0 after a 30-6 win over UTSA. Quarterback Manning is set for his first road start against a ranked team and his first meeting with Tennessee. On the season, Manning has thrown for 664 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. He opened the season with four passing touchdowns and 305 yards against Texas State, threw for 195 yards when Texas overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against Ohio State, and posted 164 yards and two scores against UTSA. Receiver Coleman caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns against UTSA, scoring once on a vertical route.
Tennessee is also 3-0 following a 42-9 victory over Kennesaw State. True freshman quarterback Brandon has 552 passing yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions on the year, carrying the country’s fifth-highest ESPN QBR into Week 3. Against Kennesaw State, Brandon completed 18 of 26 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, adding 47 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Running back Bishop leads Tennessee with 286 rushing yards and four touchdowns, scoring in seven consecutive games. His early-season work includes a 147-yard, two-touchdown game against Georgia Tech.
Defensive matchup and streaming options
Tennessee’s ground attack averages 298.7 rushing yards per game and ranks ninth in the nation with 896 total rushing yards. Its 44 rushing first downs are second in the country. The Volunteers defense gives up 14 points and 151 passing yards per contest. Texas brings a defense allowing 12 points and 109 rushing yards per game.
The Tennessee game will air on ABC and can be streamed on ESPN Unlimited, which is offered in a bundle with Fox One. It’s also available to stream through DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV.
