Texas vs Tennessee is underway in Knoxville, with the No. 1 Longhorns holding a 7-3 lead over the No. 14 Volunteers in a highly anticipated Southeastern Conference opener.
The game is being played Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee is hosting its first SEC game of the season.
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Texas leads Tennessee early in Knoxville
Texas entered the matchup with a 3-0 record after opening the season with wins over Texas State, Ohio State and UTSA.
The Longhorns defeated Texas State 59-7, edged Ohio State 24-23 and beat UTSA 30-6 during the opening three weeks.
Tennessee also arrived unbeaten at 3-0 after defeating Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State.
The Volunteers opened with a 56-9 win over Furman, followed it with a 45-24 victory at Georgia Tech and then defeated Kennesaw State 42-9.
| Game detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee |
| Date | Saturday, September 26, 2026 |
| Current score | Texas 7, Tennessee 3 |
| Venue | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Kickoff | 12 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. CT |
| Television | ABC |
Arch Manning and Faizon Brandon lead the quarterbacks
Texas quarterback Arch Manning entered the game as one of the central storylines surrounding the matchup.
Through the opening portion of the contest, Manning had produced 122 passing yards for the Longhorns.
Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon had seven passing yards at the same stage of the game.
Brandon had accounted for nine total touchdowns during Tennessee’s first three games, including six passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.
The quarterback matchup is one of the most closely watched elements of the first regular-season meeting between these programs since 1969.
A major test for both SEC programs
Saturday’s game is significant beyond the early-season standings because it is the first regular-season meeting between Texas and Tennessee.
The programs have met three times previously, with those games taking place in the Cotton Bowl.
Texas leads the all-time football series 2-1, according to Tennessee’s official game information.
The previous meetings were played in 1951, 1953 and 1969.
The contest also places two ranked teams in a nationally televised SEC matchup, with ESPN College GameDay broadcasting from Knoxville before kickoff.
Neyland Stadium, which has a listed capacity of 101,915, was sold out for the game.
How to watch Texas vs Tennessee
The game is being broadcast nationally on ABC.
Kickoff was scheduled for noon Eastern time, 11 a.m. Central time, on Saturday, September 26.
The SEC broadcast schedule lists Texas at Tennessee as the noon ABC game for Week 4.
Fans can also follow live statistics through the official Texas athletics game centre and Tennessee athletics game centre.
What comes next
The result will serve as an early marker for both teams as they begin the most demanding portion of their conference schedules.
Texas is scheduled to face Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry on October 10 after the Tennessee game.
Tennessee is scheduled to host Auburn on October 3 before continuing its SEC schedule against Arkansas and Alabama.
The live score and game statistics remain subject to change as the contest continues in Knoxville.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Texas vs Tennessee score?
Texas leads Tennessee 7-3 in the second quarter of the SEC opener at Neyland Stadium.
When is Texas vs Tennessee being played?
The game is being played Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Where is Texas vs Tennessee being played?
The matchup is taking place at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
What channel is showing Texas vs Tennessee?
The game is being broadcast nationally on ABC.
What were the teams’ records entering the game?
Both Texas and Tennessee entered the matchup with unbeaten 3-0 records.
Fact-Checked: Key game details, live score, records, rankings, schedule information and broadcast details were checked against the official Texas Athletics, Tennessee Athletics and Southeastern Conference sources.
Disclaimer: The score and game statistics may change as Texas vs Tennessee continues.