gg2
Tennessee football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Tennessee Volunteers host Furman in home opener Sept. 5 at Neyland Stadium. The Vols debut First Horizon jersey patch, honoring Dolly Parton.
Background
Tennessee football opens its 2026 home schedule against FCS opponent Furman, with the team ranked 20th and starting a true freshman quarterback. The game marks the debut of a new jersey patch sponsor and a tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
How it unfolded
- Sep 1, 2026Tennessee Athletics announces a historic partnership extension with First Horizon, making them the official jersey patch sponsor for football and Olympic sports.
- Sep 2, 2026Reports indicate the First Horizon deal is valued at over $120 million over 10 years. ESPN puts Tennessee on upset alert for the Furman game.
- Sep 3, 2026Yahoo Sports predicts Tennessee will make the College Football Playoff. An insider suggests Josh Heupel could be a candidate for Baylor if the Vols have an 8-5 season.
- Sep 5, 2026Tennessee hosts Furman at Neyland Stadium, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET. The team will wear a helmet sticker honoring Dolly Parton.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Coach Josh Heupel expressed excitement about the First Horizon partnership, saying it will provide essential resources for the program.
- Analysts
- Yahoo Sports predicts Tennessee will make the College Football Playoff, citing a strong roster despite a freshman quarterback.
- Caution
- ESPN placed Tennessee on upset alert, noting the team is breaking in many new pieces, though Furman is an FCS school that went 6-6 last year.
- Insider
- Bruce Feldman of The Athletic suggested Baylor could pursue Josh Heupel if Tennessee has an '8-5 type of season' in 2026.
Still unverified
The reported value of the First Horizon partnership ($120 million over 10 years) is based on an industry source and not officially disclosed.