The No. 1 Texas Longhorns hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon, heading to one of the toughest environments in the nation for a matchup with the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on ABC.
Both teams arrive in Knoxville at 3-0, but Texas has already been put to the test. The Longhorns opened with a 59-7 win over Texas State before rallying past then-No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Week 2. Texas followed that up with a 30-6 victory over UTSA last Saturday to close out its three-game homestand.
Arch Manning has thrown for 661 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions through those first three games, while the Texas defense has allowed only 12 points per game. That unit carried much of the load against UTSA, holding the Roadrunners to six points as the Longhorns moved to 3-0.
Tennessee has handled everyone on its schedule so far, beginning with a 56-9 win over Furman before going on the road and beating Georgia Tech 45-24. The Volunteers returned home last weekend and cruised past Kennesaw State 42-9, giving them three wins by at least 21 points to open the season.
The biggest question entering Saturday is how Tennessee’s offense responds to a major jump in competition. True freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has tossed 552 yards and six touchdowns in his first three college games, helping the Volunteers average 47.7 points per contest.
Historically speaking, Texas and Tennessee have met only three times – with all three games taking place in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns lead the series 2-1 and won the most recent meeting 36-13 following the 1968 season. Saturday will be the first regular season matchup between the programs and the first time Texas has ever played at Neyland Stadium.
Texas vs. Tennessee Odds Today
The nation’s top-ranked team is a 5.5-point road favorite in its conference opener at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Texas -5.5 (-110) | Tennessee +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Texas -225 | Tennessee +175
- Total: Over 54.5 (-115) | Under 54.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for Texas vs. Tennessee
Tennessee +5.5 (-110): Tennessee doesn’t find itself catching points at Neyland Stadium very often. This is only the fifth time since 2022 that the Volunteers have been home underdogs, and they went 3-1 ATS in the previous four opportunities.
That doesn’t mean Tennessee has answered every question through three weeks. Georgia Tech represents the Volunteers’ only meaningful FBS test to this point, and Saturday will be an entirely different assignment for Faizon Brandon. The freshman quarterback will be making his first SEC start against a Texas defense that has been one of the biggest reasons for the Longhorns’ hot start.
The number still gives us enough room to side with Tennessee. Texas has struggled to reward bettors away from Austin during Steve Sarkisian’s tenure, going 8-15 ATS in true road games since he took over the program. The Longhorns were particularly unreliable in that spot last season, finishing 0-5 ATS on the road.
This will be Texas’ first road game of 2026, and Neyland is an extremely difficult place to ask a team to cover nearly a touchdown. Tennessee has enough talent to stay within reach, even if Brandon encounters some of the growing pains that come with facing an elite defense for the first time.
We’ll take the points, lean on the home environment and fade Texas’ poor history on the road with Tennessee +5.5 as our best bet for Saturday.
- Best Bet: Tennessee +5.5 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Texas is the popular side among Hard Rock Bet players to both win and cover:
- Moneyline: Texas has taken in 85.2% of all moneyline bets and 76.5% of the money.
- Spread: Texas -5.5 is receiving 59.5% of all spread tickets and 51.9% of the handle.
- Total: Over 54.5 has drawn 65.4% of all wagers, while 56.4% of the handle is on Under 54.5.
Texas vs. Tennessee Game Info
- 🏟️ Location: Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, Tennessee
- 📅 Date: Saturday, September 26
- ⏰ Start Time: Noon ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: ABC
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