In Knoxville and beyond, orange runs deep. Tennessee Volunteers football isn’t just a fall tradition—it’s a year-round obsession. Vols fans pack Neyland, fill tailgate lots, and stay glued to screens from kickoff to the final whistle. Missing a game? Not an option. That’s why aligning your setup early for the 2025 season pays off.
DirecTV offers extensive NCAA coverage, including full access to SEC Network and regional sports channels airing Tennessee’s matchups. But fans aren’t limited to satellite. Live streams through the DirecTV app let you watch from anywhere. Add in platforms like Yahoo Sports, which delivers real-time scores and mobile streaming, and you’ve got multiple ways to follow every touchdown live. With the right access, you're always in position to celebrate on cue with Rocky Top playing loud.
The University of Tennessee officially released its 2025 football schedule through the Southeastern Conference in January, sparking early predictions and mapping for fans across the Southeast. This year’s lineup includes a blend of home-field advantage showdowns in Knoxville and high-stakes SEC road battles that will help shape the Volunteers’ postseason path.
Early non-conference tests will sharpen the Vols before diving into their SEC slate. Conference play begins in mid-September, traditionally after two out-of-conference contests. The bye week lands in mid-October, creating a natural checkpoint before the season’s defining stretch.
Dates and kickoff times are subject to updates due to television scheduling, so checking the latest available schedule is essential. SEC games often shift to accommodate national broadcasts, especially night kickoffs and doubleheaders.
For the most current details, including the full lineup, venues, and start times, visit the Tennessee Athletics official schedule or follow updates on the Yahoo Sports Volunteers schedule page.
The 2025 season places Tennessee Volunteers football games squarely in the national spotlight. To keep up with every snap, run, and touchdown, fans will need to tune into the right channels—both national and conference-specific networks play a role in broadcasting this season’s schedule.
Games involving the Volunteers are typically broadcast across a mix of networks depending on the game day, opponent, and conference rules. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in 2025.
Kickoff times can shift based on team performance, rankings, or key injuries, meaning networks occasionally reassign broadcast rights late in the week. The most dependable way to locate the right channel is to check the live programming guide the morning of game day. DirecTV’s channel lineup updates in real-time, accounting for last-minute schedule changes or flexed national games.
The regular-season lineup only tells half the story. Bowl games and the College Football Playoff operate under separate TV contracts. While ESPN holds exclusive rights to the CFP through 2026, individual bowls carry partnerships with networks including CBS, FOX, and ABC. Depending on where and how Tennessee finishes its season, the team’s postseason game may air on a different channel than usual.
Curious which games land where on the dial? Dive into the DirecTV-specific guide later in this article to locate channels like ESPN, SEC Network, and ABC in your regional lineup.
Starting with the 2024 season, ESPN owns exclusive rights to Southeastern Conference (SEC) football broadcasts. This major shift followed a $3 billion deal finalized in 2020, which officially transitioned SEC media rights from CBS to ESPN beginning in 2024 and continuing through 2034. The 2025 season marks the second full year under this new media landscape.
ESPN's control isn't limited to the main channel. The agreement spans across its family of networks — that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network. In addition, many high-profile SEC matchups now air on ABC, a network owned by Disney, which also owns ESPN. The result is a unified broadcasting platform for all SEC football content, streamlining access for fans of programs like Tennessee.
ABC’s inclusion transforms its Saturday night programming into a national stage for SEC football. Games formerly broadcast on CBS — such as the historic 3:30 p.m. Eastern time slot — now live on ESPN or ABC depending on their national appeal. Tennessee's rivalry games, for instance, including those against Alabama, Georgia, or Florida, frequently earn prime evening placement on ABC.
The alliance also opens doors for broader exposure. More top-ten matchups, playoff implications, and bowl-positioning games tied to the Vols will likely be broadcast nationwide without regional limitations.
Tennessee fans no longer need to flip between networks or rely on CBS for the season’s biggest games. Every home and away SEC broadcast is part of ESPN’s centralized offering. That means consistent game-day presentation, graphics, commentators, and halftime shows across both regular and high-stakes matchups.
The SEC Network remains integral. While flagship games may go to ABC or ESPN primetime slots, the SEC Network picks up midday or early evening contests, along with studio programming and replays. This approach ensures fans have full-season access, even to lower-profile games not targeted for national TV coverage.
DirecTV carries all ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network, on its base and sports-tier packages. It also offers ABC as a local affiliate in most U.S. markets. This alignment gives DirecTV subscribers seamless access to every SEC game covered under the ESPN/ABC deal. No antenna or secondary service is needed to access national broadcasts.
In 2025, when Tennessee steps onto the field, whether for a season opener or a rivalry clash, those with DirecTV will find every whistle and touchdown across ESPN or ABC platforms. The network's streamlined rights deal simplifies how fans plan their Saturdays — fewer surprises on which network is airing the game, and more time enjoying SEC football.
DirecTV subscribers will find multiple options to catch every Tennessee Volunteers football game during the 2025 season. With the right channel lineup and package level, game day coverage on DirecTV becomes seamless and reliable. Here’s how to set it up for maximum coverage.
The Volunteers' matchups are spread across several major sports networks, each carrying rights to SEC and nationally televised games. Make sure these channels are active in your channel lineup:
To watch every Tennessee game live, channel access depends on the subscription tier. Here’s what works best:
Choosing the right DirecTV plan sets the stage long before kickoff. Bundling into the CHOICE™ or ULTIMATE tier ensures coverage of most nationally televised Tennessee games, but serious fans adding the SPORTS PACK will gain deeper visibility into off-Saturday matchups and regional exclusives. Ready to spot the Vols? Flip to channel 611 on game day and lock in your Saturdays this fall.
DirecTV subscribers can access multiple sports packages tailored to meet the needs of college football fans. Whether you're following Tennessee week by week or scouting future playoff rivals, several options deliver reliable access to games from the SEC and beyond.
The SPORTS PACK on DirecTV includes more than 40 regional sports networks (RSNs) along with specialty and collegiate channels. These include Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast—both of which occasionally carry Tennessee Volunteers football replays and SEC content—not to mention niche channels like CBS Sports Network and ACC Network for out-of-conference matchups.
Many RSNs are already available if you subscribe to DirecTV’s CHOICE™ package or higher. For Tennessee fans in-market, these networks can carry studio programming, highlight reels, and replays relevant to the Vols, especially through partnerships with school-specific content providers.
DirecTV discontinued offering College Sports Pack as a standalone out-of-market college football option in late 2022. However, ESPN College Extra has been phased into broader streaming platforms. While not available via DirecTV directly in 2025, alternate access through ESPN+ may be recommended for viewing non-local matchups. DirecTV remains a strong platform for national broadcasts via networks like ABC, FOX, and ESPN—networks carrying nationally televised SEC games, including Tennessee’s top matchups.
Layering SPORTS PACK on top of the CHOICE™ base tier positions you to catch Tennessee games across multiple networks, plus access broader college football coverage in 2025. Need national game-day flexibility beyond the SEC? ULTIMATE™ plus SPORTS PACK ensures you're not missing marquee matchups or critical conference showdowns.
DirecTV includes the SEC Network in its CHOICE package and above, making it accessible to the majority of subscribers planning to follow Tennessee Volunteers football in 2025. The primary SEC Network channel is located on channel 611. This channel delivers live game broadcasts, expert analysis, pre- and post-game shows, and original programming focused on SEC athletics.
Those subscribing to lower DirecTV packages like ENTERTAINMENT will need to upgrade to CHOICE, XTRA, ULTIMATE, or PREMIER to gain full access to the SEC Network lineup. There’s no pay-per-view requirement—just inclusion in the right base package.
On weeks when multiple SEC teams play at the same time, DirecTV activates alternate feeds to ensure full game coverage. These are commonly known as overflow channels. For 2025, games not shown on the primary SEC Network channel will air on:
These additional feeds cover simultaneous kickoffs or extended live programming. Tennessee games sometimes shift to overflow channels, especially during early-season non-conference matchups or heavy SEC Saturdays when several high-profile games air back-to-back.
DirecTV automatically unlocks overflow channels for subscribers with SEC Network access. When tuning into 611-1 or 611-2, the channels become active only if a live event is in progress. If no alternative content is scheduled, the screen may display a placeholder message or black screen during inactive periods.
To confirm whether a Tennessee Volunteers game will air on an alternate feed, check the on-screen guide on game day. You can also use the DirecTV app or the online program schedule. Look for programming labeled as “SEC Network Alternate” or the specific matchup, such as “Tennessee at Florida.”
Missed the pregame announcement? Flip between 611, 611-1, and 611-2 during the start of the broadcast window—either the live game feed or broadcast intro will show within seconds if it's scheduled there.
DirecTV makes mobility easy. With the DirecTV Stream app, you can watch live broadcasts of Tennessee Volunteers football games on phones, tablets, and smart TVs. The app syncs with your home subscription, delivering the same live channels, including ESPN, SEC Network, and CBS, wherever you are in the U.S.
The app allows up to 20 streams per account within the home network and up to 3 simultaneous streams on-the-go. Missed kickoff by a few minutes? Use the restart feature to watch the game from the beginning.
When a game airs on ESPN platforms, the ESPN app offers high-quality live streams. Whether it's an SEC Saturday night game or a noon kickoff on ESPN2, logging in with your DirecTV credentials unlocks the broadcast.
Streaming quality adjusts dynamically, optimizing for your device and connection speed. For the best results, use Wi-Fi or 5G.
The Yahoo Sports app occasionally streams live college football games, depending on local market rights. While full Tennessee matchups may not always be available, the app consistently delivers real-time in-game highlights, scores, and key plays.
This platform works best as a supplemental viewing tool—ideal for catching highlight reels and quick updates while multitasking.
When video streaming isn’t feasible due to signal limitations or data restrictions, turn to audio. The Tennessee Athletics official website and its partnered apps broadcast real-time play-by-play radio through the Vol Network.
In addition to games, the site offers in-game stats, live scoreboards, and halftime reports directly from Neyland Stadium.
Need full control over how and where you follow the Vols? With these streaming alternatives, nothing gets in the way of game day—whether you're at a wedding, stuck in traffic, or tailgating miles from your TV.
With DirecTV, organizing your weekend around Tennessee Volunteers football in 2025 doesn’t require flipping through menus during kickoff. Start by filtering your channel guide to focus solely on sports. Press Menu on your remote, navigate to Settings & Help, and select Favorite Channels. Create a custom list including networks that consistently air college football—CBS, ESPN, ABC, FOX, SEC Network, and ESPN2.
Label this list with a title like "Vols 2025" for quick access. Once saved, pressing Guide will display only those curated channels, making it much easier to spot Tennessee games without scrolling through hundreds of listings.
To avoid missing a single snap, schedule game-day reminders through your DirecTV receiver. When browsing the guide, highlight the game or pre-game show, then press the Info button. Choose Add Reminder from the menu. The system will send an on-screen alert a few minutes before kickoff.
You can take this further by enabling auto-tune, which switches directly to the game when it starts—ideal if background noise distracts you or if you're juggling multiple sports throughout the day.
If you're using the Genie remote with voice capability, stay hands-free. Just say "Record Tennessee game" or "Watch SEC Network" and the system will handle the rest. The remote can search for game broadcasts across all channels you subscribe to, even if the match isn't prominently listed on the home screen just yet.
The DirecTV mobile app extends this flexibility further. Open the app, head to the Sports section, find upcoming Volunteers games, and select Record or Watch Live, depending on availability. The app syncs with your receiver, so whether you're at the store, on a hike, or at a tailgate without a satellite box, you're still in control of your game-day setup.
Not all Tennessee Volunteers football games will be available nationwide. Blackout restrictions kick in when TV rights are granted exclusively to a specific regional broadcaster. If a game airs locally through a network affiliate, it might be blacked out on national platforms like DirecTV in order to protect local station viewership.
This happens most often with non-conference matchups or lower-profile conference games picked up by regional sports networks or local affiliates. DirecTV complies with rights restrictions set by the NCAA, SEC, and broadcasters, which means a blank screen might greet you if you're outside the approved viewing area.
Look up your market’s local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX stations—their broadcast rights sometimes override DirecTV national feeds. If your antenna or over-the-air setup includes these channels, you might catch a blacked-out game live, no satellite or stream required.
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