Defending National Champions' Early Season
The defending national champions face a tough challenge in their early season tournament in Houston from Feb. 28-March 1. They take on Oklahoma State, Rice, and Arizona. Tennessee also hosts Hofstra, Samford, and St. Bonaventure in nonconference weekend series. Game times and TV designations will be announced later.This early season schedule is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire year. The team will need to perform at their best to establish themselves as contenders for the national title.
Oklahoma State, Rice, and Arizona are all strong opponents, and Tennessee will need to bring their A-game to come out on top.
Notable Late-Season Midweek Matchups
The Vols have notable late-season midweek matchups against Northern Kentucky and Indiana State. Northern Kentucky reached the NCAA Tournament last season and played in the Knoxville Regional. The Vols beat the Norse 9-3 in the regional opener. Indiana State has reached the NCAA Tournament four times since 2019, including hosting and winning a regional in 2023.These midweek matchups add an extra layer of excitement to the season. They give the team a chance to test their skills against different opponents and keep their momentum going.
Tennessee also has midweek matchups with in-state opponents Tennessee Tech, Lipscomb, and Belmont. It also plays midweek games against UNC Asheville, North Alabama, Radford, Xavier, West Georgia, ETSU, Queens, and Bellarmine.
Vols vs. Texas A&M: CWS Finals Rematch
The Vols and Texas A&M will play April 4-6 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee beat Texas A&M in three games in the College World Series finals in June. UT won 6-5 in Game 3 on June 24 to claim the program's first national title in Vitello's seventh season.This rematch is highly anticipated as both teams have a lot to prove. Texas A&M will be looking to avenge their defeat, while Tennessee will be looking to defend their title.
The atmosphere at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is always electric, and this game is sure to be a sellout. Fans from both teams will be cheering on their respective sides, making for an unforgettable experience.
Conference Slate and Other Matchups
UT closes the conference slate with a three-game home set against Vanderbilt from May 9-11 and a road series at Arkansas from May 15-17. The Vols face LSU in a regular-season series for the third straight season when they go to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from April 25-27 for a matchup of the past two national champions.Tennessee also hosts Auburn from May 2-4. It has back-to-back road series at Alabama from March 21-23 and South Carolina from March 28-30.
Eight of Tennessee's 10 conference opponents reached the NCAA Tournament last season. Auburn and Ole Miss are the exceptions. Tennessee, which won the SEC regular-season title and the SEC Tournament title last season, does not face Oklahoma or Texas in the first season of the 16-team SEC.
This conference slate is filled with tough opponents, and Tennessee will need to be at their best to come out on top. The back-to-back road series at Alabama and South Carolina will be especially challenging.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.