Honorable Mentions
Washington
While it is unlikely Washington will schedule a home-and-home series against Tennessee, the two schools may agree to move up their current series, which is scheduled for 2029 and 2030.
Washington has the September date available for the next two seasons, making them a candidate to fill the open spot in Tennessee's current schedule for both seasons by adjusting the current contract.
If this were to happen, Tennessee could host Washington in 2026 and would be scheduled to visit Seattle in 2027 based on the current structure of the scheduling contract between the two schools.
This would be an exciting series to replace the Nebraska series and an appealing road trip for many Tennessee fans looking to visit another great college football venue.
Syracuse
Syracuse is another unlikely but possible addition to the 2026 roster. The Vols and Orange are scheduled to play this year in Atlanta in a neutral-site matchup.
This could be a challenge, but with the two programs meeting this fall, a deal could be made when they meet in Atlanta. Tennessee would likely pursue another neutral site game, but closer to Syracuse.
This could be a fun opportunity for Tennessee to visit another NFL stadium in the Northeast next year. New York, Philadelphia, DC, and Buffalo could all be options for this game.
Syracuse doesn't have an opening on its 2027 schedule, so Tennessee would have to look for another game. However, this could solve Tennessee's issue for the 2026 schedule.