Tennessee ended its season on a disappointing note with a loss to Vanderbilt in the finale. With an 8-4 record and only a bowl game remaining, head coach Josh Heupel will already be focused on returning stronger next year. And with the 2026 schedule released, the Volunteers may have an early advantage thanks to the massive coaching carousel that unfolded across college football this season.

With the coach shuffling going around, a lot of programs will go through a transition period. For Josh Heupel and Tennessee, this is positive news. The Vols will face four first-year programs in their SEC schedule. Teams include LSU, Auburn, Kentucky, and Arkansas, who all fired their head coaches this season.

This gives Tennessee a legitimate shot at reaching the SEC Championship Game. The Volunteers

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