The 2025-26 men’s basketball campaign will mark the 11th season for Tennessee under head coach Rick Barnes. He has compiled a 232–109 (111–66 SEC) record since 2015.
Barnes guided the Vols to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances from 2024-25.
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Tennessee will open its 2025-26 basketball season on Nov. 3 versus Mercer at Food City Center.
“Each year, we work to create a nonconference schedule that best sets our team up for success and prepares us for SEC competition,” Barnes said. “We feel we have once again done just that. In addition to four tough games we’ll get on planes for, we look forward to playing nine here in the Volunteer state, including eight on our home court, in front of our incredible fans.”
Tennessee released its 2025-26 nonconference basketball schedule and is listed below.
2025-26 Tennessee men’s basketball nonconference schedule
Nov. 3 – Mercer
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Nov. 9 – Northern Kentucky
Nov. 12 – North Florida
Nov. 17 – Rice
Nov. 20 – Tennessee State
Nov. 24 – vs. Rutgers (Players Era Men’s Championship – Las Vegas, Nevada)
Nov. 25 – vs. Houston (Players Era Men’s Championship – Las Vegas, Nevada)
Nov. 26-27 – vs. TBD (Players Era Men’s Championship – Las Vegas, Nevada)
Dec. 2 – at Syracuse (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Dec. 6 – vs. Illinois (Nashville, Tennessee)
Dec. 16 – Louisville
Dec. 21 – Gardner-Webb
Dec. 30 – South Carolina State
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee announces 2025-26 nonconference basketball schedule
