The Vols kick off their season by defending their national championship on February 14. They host Hofstra for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. This is the first of three nonconference opponents they will welcome for a weekend series before conference play begins. On February 18, they face UNC Asheville. Then, from February 21 to 23, Samford comes to town. February 25 sees North Alabama as a visitor. And on February 28, they travel to Houston, Texas, to play in the Astros Foundation College Classic against Oklahoma State. The games at Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, start at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Following that, on March 1, they play Rice in the same classic at 12:05 p.m. And on March 2, they round out the weekend against Arizona at 12:05 p.m.
March 4 brings Radford to Knoxville. On March 5, Xavier pays a visit. From March 7 to 9, St. Bonaventure is the opponent. March 11 sees West Georgia. Then, from March 14 to 16, they host arch-rival Florida. March 18 is a game against ETSU. On March 21 to 23, they travel to Alabama. March 25 welcomes Queens. And from March 28 to 30, they are at South Carolina.
April 1 sees Tennessee Tech on the schedule. From April 4 to 6, they face Texas A&M. This is a rematch of last year's CWS Final. On April 11 to 13, they travel to Ole Miss. April 15 brings Bellarmine to Knoxville. From April 18 to 20, Kentucky is the opponent. April 22 sees Lipscomb. And from April 25 to 27, they are at LSU.
May 2 to 4 brings Auburn to Knoxville. On May 6, they play Indiana State. From May 9 to 11, Vanderbilt is the opponent. May 13 sees Belmont. And from May 15 to 17, they travel to Fayetteville to face Arkansas.
The SEC announced Tennessee baseball's conference schedule in September. Each team in the league will play 10 SEC series before heading to Hoover, Ala., for the SEC Tournament in May. Notably, Tennessee does not play the SEC's newest members Texas and Oklahoma in their first time competing in the league. Eight of Tennessee's 10 SEC opponents played in an NCAA regional last season, and three of those teams advanced to an NCAA Super Regional.