Kickoff Times and windows: What we know so far about Tennessee Football's 2025 schedule

Two new kickoff times, along with kickoff windows, were added to Tennessee Football’s 2025 schedule on Wednesday, bringing the total number set start times to five while there are now seven games with kickoff windows — games set for either the afternoon, at night or in the flex window. 

The first four games of the season — Syracuse (Atlanta), ETSU, Georgia and UAB — and Homecoming against New Mexico State in November all have kickoff times and TV designations.

There are five games set for the flex window, meaning kickoffs either between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with specific times set two weeks before the game.

The home game against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale on November 29 is set for an afternoon kickoff, meaning between 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET. The road game at Kentucky on October 25 will be a night game, meaning a kickoff between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Here’s what we know so far about Tennessee’s schedule:

August 30 — Syracuse (Atlanta) 

Kickoff Time: Noon ET | TV: ABC

It was reported earlier this month that the August 30 season-opener between Tennessee and Syracuse would be a Noon Eastern Time start in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It will be part of a tripleheader that also includes Alabama at Florida State at 3:30 p.m. ET and LSU at Clemson at 7:30 p.m. ET.

September 6 — ETSU

Kickoff Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | TV: SEC Network+/ESPN+

Tennessee’s home opener against East Tennessee State on September 6 will be a 3:30 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming through SEC Network+ and ESPN+. The Bucs and Vols have played just once in football, with Tennessee winning 59-3 on September 8, 2018.

September 13 — Georgia

Kickoff Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | TV: ABC

Georgia is Tennessee’s SEC opener, after the Vols and Bulldogs played in November the last four years and in October in 2019 and 2020. Georgia has won eight straight in the series, dating back to the Josh Dobbs-Jauan Jennings Hail Mary to win at Georgia in 2016. This season’s 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Neyland Stadium against Georgia will be Tennessee’s annual ‘Checker Neyland’ game. It will also be the John Henderson Hall of Fame Salute weekend, with the former Tennessee defensive lineman set to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

September 20 — UAB

Kickoff Time: 12:45 p.m. ET | TV: SEC Network

Tennessee is 5-0 against UAB in a series that dates back to November 1998. The Vols have won the five games with an average margin of victory of 17.8 points. The last meeting was a 30-7 Tennessee win in November 2019. Tennessee needed overtime to beat UAB 32-29 in 2010. In the 2005 season, the third-ranked Vols had to hang on for a 17-10 win over an upset-minded Blazers team. 

September 27 — At Mississippi State 

Kickoff Time: Flex Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee beat Mississippi State 33-14 at Neyland Stadium last November, the first meeting between the two teams since 2019. The Vols have played in Starkville since a 41-31 loss in 2012 and haven’t won on the road at Davis Wade Stadium since 2007 (33-21). Tennessee is 30-16-1 all time against Mississippi State, dating back to 1907. The Vols are 11-2 in the series since 1987.

October 11 — Arkansas

Kickoff Time: Flex Window | TV: TBD

After upsetting Tennessee 19-14 in Fayetteville last season, Arkansas makes the return trip to Knoxville. The Razorbacks won 24-20 in their last appearance at Neyland Stadium, in October 2015. The Vols have lost four straight and five of their last six against Arkansas, dating back to November 2006. Tennessee will host ‘Champions Weekend’ while Arkansas is in town. 

October 18 — At Alabama

Kickoff Time: Flex Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee goes to Alabama on October 18 for the annual Third Saturday in October Rivalry. The Vols have won two of the last three, beating the Crimson Tide 24-17 at Neyland Stadium last season and 52-49 in Knoxville in 2022. Tennessee led 20-7 at halftime at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2023, but Alabama scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to roll to a 34-20 win.

October 25 — At Kentucky

Kickoff Time: Night Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee goes back to Kroger Field in Lexington on October 25 looking for a third straight road win over Kentucky during the Josh Heupel era. The Vols won 45-42 at Kentucky in November 2021 and 33-27 in October 2023. Tennessee has won 37 of the last 40 in the series, dating back to 1985, and is 85-26-9 since the two teams first played in 1893.

November 1 — Oklahoma

Kickoff Time: Flex Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee welcomed Oklahoma to the SEC with a 25-15 win in Norman last season, the Sooners’ first year in the conference. It was the first win over Oklahoma for the Vols since 1939, after the Sooners won three straight (1968, 2014 and 2015). Baker Mayfield rallied Oklahoma for a 31-24 overtime win in Knoxville in September 2015, the Sooners’ only appearance at Neyland Stadium to date.

November 15 — New Mexico State

Kickoff Time: 4:15 p.m. ET | TV: SEC Network

Tennessee will host New Mexico State on November 15 in the first meeting between the two teams. It will be Homecoming Weekend for the Vols and will also be Salute to Service Weekend. New Mexico State went 3-9 last season with wins over Southeast Missouri State, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee State. The Aggies are ranked No. 122 in ESPN’s SP+. 

November 22 — At Florida

Kickoff Time: Flex Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee will go to Gainesville in November for the first time in program history when the Vols face the Gators on November 22 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. The 2020 game was played in December 5 in Knoxville in the COVID-altered season and the 2001 game was moved to December 1 after the terrorist attacks on September 11 postponed the originally scheduled game. The first seven Tennessee-Florida games were played in October between 1971 and 1991 (another October game was played in 2014) before the rivalry moved to September. 

November 29 — Vanderbilt

Kickoff Time: Afternoon Window | TV: TBD

Tennessee ends the regular-season schedule on November 29 with Senior Day against Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium. The Vols were looking a seventh straight win in the annual in-state series, which dates back to 1892. Tennessee leads the overall series 81-33-5. Vanderbilt won 19 of its 33 games between 1892 and 1926.