On Wednesday, the NFL unveiled its full schedule and the vidoes each team release to announce their schedule are always great. Think “Superbowl Ad” quality videos, multiply that by 32, and you have NFL schedule release-day.
The Titans were no different. It felt like I was watching a Skyrizi/Viagra ad while also dunking on every opponent on the schedule. You can watch the video here.
The season begins September 7 with a road game against Bo Nix and the Broncos, a tough early test in high altitude (screw that). The home opener follows on September 14th against the Rams, a 2024 playoff contender if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy.
Notable matchups include Week 7’s home game versus the New England Patriots (welcome home Mike, we never should have fired you), and Week 16’s tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs (please let Cam Ward be the next Mahomes).
Don’t forget the boring divisional games with the Texans in Weeks 4 and 11, and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Weeks 13 and 18. They also have the Colts at home Week 3 and away Week 8.
And what a surprise. The Titans landed no primetime games. Roger Goodell will regret it when Cam Ward is out there making magic happen.
Tennessee Extends Illinois Matchup
Tennessee Basketball will continue their matchup with Illinois, facing the Illini on December 6, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this upcoming season. According to CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein, the Vols are also slated to play Illinois at Chicago’s United Center on a yet-to-be-announced date, extending this competitive series.
Tennessee has pulled out a couple of tough wins, securing victories in both games of a home-and-home series over the past two seasons. During the 2023/2024 season, Tennessee triumphed 86-79 in Knoxville, led by Dalton Knecht’s 21 points, with all five starters reaching double figures. This past season, Tennessee sweated out a thrilling 66-64 road win at Illinois that was sealed by Jordan Gainey’s buzzer-beating layup. Gainey was hot with 23 points off the bench, while Chaz Lanier added 17, and Igor Milicic Jr. grabbed 14 rebounds.
Historically, Tennessee holds a 4-1 edge over Illinois, with wins in Knoxville in 1967 and 1985, a loss in Champaign in 1988, and their two recent successes. Under Rick Barnes, the Vols have not been afraid to add challenging non-conference schedules, facing powerhouses like North Carolina, Gonzaga, and Arizona since 2015/2016, alongside exhibition games at Michigan State and Indiana.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will host Louisville on December 16, 2025, completing a home-and-home series that began with a 77-55 rout on the road last November. The 2025-26 schedule remains largely undefined, though the Vols are expected to travel for the ACC-SEC Challenge. Additionally, Tennessee will compete in the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas in November 2025, joining a stacked field featuring Alabama, Duke, Kansas, and others.
If you want to be the best, you have to play the best, and that is a motto Rick Barnes appears to continue to live by.