If you’re refreshing your phone and asking what's the score to the tennessee football game, you might be a little early—or a little late, depending on which "Tennessee" you're looking for.
As of right now, January 15, 2026, the Tennessee Volunteers’ college season is actually in the books. They wrapped things up a couple of weeks ago.
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The Final Score You’re Probably Looking For
The last time Josh Heupel’s squad took the field was back on December 30, 2025. It was a cold Tuesday night in Nashville for the Music City Bowl. Tennessee faced off against Illinois, and honestly, it was a heartbreaker for the Big Orange faithful.
The final score was Illinois 30, Tennessee 28.
It wasn't exactly the high-flying offensive masterpiece fans have come to expect from Heupel. The Vols finished their 2025 campaign with an 8-5 record. If you’re seeing scores in the 40s or 70s floating around, those were likely the blowout wins over ETSU or UAB from earlier in the fall.
Wait, are you talking about the Titans?
This is where it gets tricky. If you aren't a college die-hard and you're just asking about "Tennessee football," you might be looking for the Tennessee Titans.
The NFL’s regular season just wrapped up, and the Titans had a rough go of it. Their most recent game was on January 4, 2026, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It wasn't pretty.
Jacksonville dismantled the Titans 41-7.
The Titans finished a dismal 3-14, which explains why there isn't a game "today." They didn't make the playoffs. While teams like the Jaguars are prepping for the postseason, the Titans are currently in full-blown "search for a new head coach" mode. Interim coach McCoy finished out the string after Brian Callahan was let go in October, but the building is basically empty right now.
What Happened to the Vols in the Music City Bowl?
Let’s get back to the college side because that’s usually what people mean when they talk about Rocky Top. The loss to Illinois was sort of a microcosm of the whole 2025 season.
There were flashes of brilliance.
There were confusing lulls.
Joey Aguilar, the quarterback who took the reigns this year, put up solid numbers—throwing for over 3,500 yards on the season—but the bowl game saw the offense struggle to find a rhythm when it mattered most. DeSean Bishop was a bright spot, though. The kid is a local product from Karns, and he cracked the 1,000-yard rushing mark this year. Watching him go for 16 touchdowns over the season was one of the few things that kept Neyland Stadium rocking during the tougher SEC stretches.
A Season of "What-Ifs"
Looking at the scoreboard from the 2025 season tells a story of a team that was this close to being elite.
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- They lost an overtime thriller to Georgia (44-41) in September.
- They dropped a tight one to Oklahoma (33-27) in November.
- The Vanderbilt game (45-24 loss) was probably the low point for most fans.
Losing to Vandy at home to end the regular season is never going to sit well in Knoxville. It’s the kind of thing that makes the off-season feel about three years long.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule
Since there isn't a game today, the real question is: when do we get to see them again?
The 2026 schedule is actually going to be historic. The SEC is moving to a nine-game conference format, which means things are getting way more intense. No more "cupcake" November games to pad the stats.
Tennessee opens the 2026 season on September 5 against Furman.
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But the game everyone is already circling? September 26. Texas is coming to Knoxville. It’ll be the first time the Longhorns have ever played a regular-season game at Neyland Stadium as a member of the SEC. There’s already talk about whether Arch Manning will be the one taking snaps for Texas when they walk through that "T."
The 2026 Home Slate
If you're planning a trip to Knoxville, the home schedule for next year is actually insane:
- Texas (The "Real UT" battle)
- Alabama (The Third Saturday in October)
- LSU (Lane Kiffin’s return to Neyland)
- Auburn (First time they've visited since 2013)
- Kentucky (The border battle)
Basically, if you want to see a big game next year, you won't have to travel far.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since the scoreboard is currently dark, here is what you should be doing if you're a Vols fan right now:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: With the season over, Heupel and his staff are hitting the portal hard. They need depth in the secondary—that was obvious in the Illinois and Vanderbilt losses.
- Check the Coaching Search: On the pro side, keep an eye on who the Titans interview. The future of pro football in Nashville depends on whether they can find a coach to develop Cam Ward.
- Mark Your Calendar: Season ticket renewals for the 2026 Vols season are happening now. With Texas and Alabama coming to town, those seats are going to be impossible to find come August.
The "score" right now is 0-0 for everyone. We’re in that weird winter limbo where recruiting rankings and portal entries matter more than touchdowns. Hang tight—September will be here before you know it.