Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. Photo By Cole Moore/Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee basketball’s opponent is set for this season’s ACC-SEC Challenge. The Vols will host Florida State at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Jon Rothstein reported Thursday night. The challenge takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 3 but Rothstein did not report what day Tennessee will host the Seminoles.
It’s the fourth year of the ACC-SEC Challenge with Tennessee posting a 1-2 record in its first three matchups in the series. Tennessee lost its opening game in the event against North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 2023. The Vols defeated Syracuse in Knoxville in December 2024 before suffering an upset defeat at Syracuse last December.
Florida State is entering its second season under head coach Luke Loucks. The Seminoles posted an 18-15 record last season, finishing 62nd in KenPom. Bart Torvik‘s early 2026-27 projections predict Florida State to finish No. 67 next season.
It’s another lackluster opponent for Tennessee in the challenge. The Vols are hurt by the alternating home-and-away years. The Vols are at home the same year that North Carolina, Clemson, Louisville, NC State, Miami and Virginia are also at home.
The Vols have a small tie to Florida State. Assistant coach Amorrow Morgan was briefly on Loucks’ staff at Florida State before leaving to join Rick Barnes staff in Knoxville.
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Tennessee has yet to announce its official non conference schedule for next season but it’s marquee matchups are coming into view.
The Vols will host Big 10 power Michigan State at home while traveling to Mackey Arena to face Purdue on Dec. 11. Tennessee will face off against former associate head coach Justin Gainey and NC State on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Rick Barnes’ 12th Tennessee team will also play either three or four games at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Vols will face off against Maryland, one of San Diego State or Iowa and one of Oregon, Louisville, St. John’s and Texas Tech. If they win all three games, Tennessee will play a fourth, championship, game at the event.
Matchups
Arkansas at North Carolina
Auburn at Clemson
Duke at Florida
Boston College at Georgia
Wake Forest at LSU
Pitt at Missouri
Syracuse at Oklahoma
Ole Miss at Virginia Tech
South Carolina at NC State
Texas at Louisville
Alabama at Miami
Kentucky at Virginia
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State
Stanford at Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Notre Dame