The SEC released the conference opponents for every men’s basketball team’s 2024-25 season on Monday afternoon.
Despite the SEC expanding to 16 teams this season with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas, the conference schedule remains at just 18 games. Tennessee will face every team in the conference at least once while facing Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt twice.
Teams used to have three permanent opponents that they played twice every season before playing two more teams twice. Now, each team has just two permanent opponents that they play twice every season and one rotating game.
While the SEC release didn’t explicitly state who Tennessee’s permanent opponents are, the most likely teams are Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
At Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Tennessee will face Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt next season.
Away from home, Tennessee will face Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
The Vols are one of just two teams that won’t play either Oklahoma or Texas at home in the two schools first year in the league. Ten of Tennessee’s 18 conference games come against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season while Arkansas and Vanderbilt are each expected to be much improved under first-year head coaches.
Arkansas coming to Tennessee marks a reunion for between the Vols and forward Jonas Aidoo. The 6-foot-11 forward played his first three seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Arkansas this offseason.
Overall, Tennessee has a fair but challenging schedule next season. Home games against Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky will all be big games while road trips to Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Texas should all be very challenging.
The SEC has yet to announce the dates, times or broadcast details of any of the games while Tennessee has yet to announce much of its non conference schedule. Tennessee does play at Illinois, in the ACC/SEC Challenge and in an early season tournament that includes St. John’s, Virginia and Baylor.
Tennessee Basketball Home SEC Games Next Season
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi State
- Missouri
- South Carolina
- Vanderbilt
Tennessee Basketball Away SEC Games Next Season
- Auburn
- Florida
- Kentucky
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- Vanderbilt
