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Nico Iamaleava and Josh Heupel at Tennessee's fall practice
Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava (8) and Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during Tennessee football’s first fall practice, in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

How to watch Tennessee Volunteers football in 2025

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The good news is the Tennesse Volunteers are a team that could make a breakthrough and push for a playoff berth. The challenging news is the SEC is more competitive than ever with the additions of the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners.

If you’re a Vols fan hoping to catch the action live, we got you. Our guide covers which channels you’ll need for this season. And we’ll provide the best streaming options for your needs.


Tennessee Football Schedule

The non-conference schedule isn’t too daunting for Tennessee. They have an out-of-conference contest against North Carolina State, which could provide much-needed momentum as they head into their SEC stretch. There, they face the Oklahoma Sooners, Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs

Here’s a glance at the Volunteers’ full schedule: 

Date Opposing Team Time (EST) Channel
Saturday, August 31st Chattanooga 12:45 p.m. SEC Network
Saturday, September 7th NC State 7:30 p.m. ABC
Saturday, September 14th Kent State 7:45 p.m. SEC Network
Saturday, September 21st Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. ABC
Saturday, October 5th Arkansas 7:30 p.m. ABC
Saturday, October 12th Florida 7:00 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, October 19th Alabama 3:30 p.m. ABC
Saturday, November 2nd Kentucky 7:45 p.m. SEC Network
Saturday, November 9th Mississippi State 7:00 p.m. SEC Network
Saturday, November 16th Georgia 7:30 p.m. SEC Network
Saturday, November 23rd UTEP 1:00 p.m. ESPN Plus / SEC Network Plus
Saturday, November 30th Vanderbilt 12:00 p.m. SEC
*All times are Eastern

Where to watch Tennessee football

You’ll want a streaming service offering ABC and the SEC Network. It’s also ideal to have ESPN since the network broadcasts most college football playoffs and bowl games. An ESPN Plus subscription can come in handy for the UTEP game. You can buy it through ESPN or with your Hulu membership. 

Another option for the UTEP game is the SEC Network Plus. You can stream this content on the free ESPN app with an ESPN login. However, make sure you have a streaming service carrying the SEC Network

With this in mind, here’s a look at which streaming companies offer these channels: 


DIRECTV STREAM Hulu + Live TV Sling TV Fubo YouTube TV
ABC


✓*


SEC Network





ESPN 





*Local channels only available in select locations

Watch Tennessee football with DIRECTV STREAM 

DIRECTV Stream logo
  • Pricing begins at $86.99/mo
  • 90+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

DIRECTV STREAM provides a ticket to the action. All DIRECTV STREAM plans feature ABC and ESPN. Subscribers should upgrade to the Choice package to stream games on the SEC Network.

DIRECTV STREAM is one of the more expensive options but it does come with some perks. The unlimited DVR ensures you have ample recording room for Tennessee games. The unlimited home device streams are a unique perk for larger homes. DIRECTV STREAM offers a healthy mix of regional sports options with ample entertainment channels.


Watch Tennessee football with Hulu + Live TV

Hulu logo
  • Pricing begins at $82.99/mo
  • 95+ live TV channels
  • 3-day free trial

Hulu + Live TV might be the best bet for Tennessee fans. The live TV package offers ESPN, Fox, Fox Sports 1, the CBS Sports Network, ABC, the SEC Network, ESPN2 and the NFL Network as well as on-demand content from Hulu in its base package — or you can add the Disney Bundle for one dollar more, which is totally worth it. With the bundle, you receive the streaming services Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. The ESPN Plus benefit extends further, as you can stream live college football games on the platform.


Watch Tennessee football with Sling TV

Sling TV logo
  • Pricing begins at $45.99/mo.
  • 35+ live TV channels
  • Free trial currently unavailable

Sling TV is affordable, but you might have to supplement coverage. Tennessee fans want the Sling Orange plan with the Sports Extra add-on. A major draw for Sling TV is that it’s the most affordable option on the list. The packages include ESPN, TNT, ESPN 2, the SEC Network, the ACC Network, and ESPNEWS.

However, you might have trouble accessing your local channels. If Sling TV doesn’t carry them in your area, one alternative is to purchase a digital antenna. All told, Sling TV offers ample sports channels at an affordable price.


Watch Tennessee football with Fubo

Fubo logo
  • Pricing begins at $84.99/mo.
  • 211+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

Fubo delivers the sports channels you need at an affordable price. The Pro plan includes ESPN, Fox, ABC, CBS, Fox Sports 1, the SEC Network and the NFL Network. If you live in the Midwest, you might have to add the Sports Lite package. With it, you receive ESPNU, the ACC and SEC Networks.

Fubo offers a one-week trial of its platform. It gives you time to see if the interface works well for you. The service also includes unlimited Cloud DVR recording and up to 10 device streams on your home network.


Watch Tennessee football with YouTube TV

YouTube TV logo
  • Pricing begins at $82.99/mo
  • 100+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

YouTube TV is a convenient way for Tennessee fans to stream the action. The base package includes ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, Fox Sports 1, NBC, CBS, ABC, the SEC Network, the Big Ten Network, the ACC Network, NBA TV, the CBS Sports Network and the NFL Network. That’s an impressive list of sports channels that come standard.

On top of this, YouTube TV has some unique perks. The key highlights feature allows you to see highlights before joining a game in progress. Furthermore, the unlimited DVR is outstanding for sports fans. And it’s the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, which grants access to out-of-market NFL games.


FAQ

How can I watch the Tennessee football game?

You’ll want to visit Tennessee football’s website or ESPN to check schedules, start times and broadcasting schedules. Since some of the Vols’ games are on ABC and the SEC Network, you’ll need a streaming platform offering them. It’s also ideal to have ESPN since many postseason games air on that channel. 

Will Tennessee games be on ESPN Plus?

Yes, Tennessee has one game currently scheduled on ESPN Plus. You can subscribe to ESPN Plus on its own for $11.99 or as part of the Disney Bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus starting at $15.99 per month.

Are Tennessee games on Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus allows you to stream games airing on your local CBS channel. However, no Tennessee Volunteers games have been announced as airing on CBS this season so far.

Sean is a creative writer and editor with specialties in sports, travel, home, tech, and finance.