Tennessee football is set to pay Furman University a sum of $500,000 for their upcoming game scheduled at Neyland Stadium on September 5, 2026. This financial arrangement is part of a contract originally signed in 2016 between Furman's athletics director Mike Buddie and Tennessee's then-athletic director Dave Hart. Buddie, who has since moved on to become the athletics director at Texas Christian University (TCU), was instrumental in finalizing this deal.
The matchup was initially slated for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the game back to the 2026 season. The rescheduling was managed by the current athletic directors, Tennessee's Danny White and Furman's Jason Donnelly, who worked to ensure the game could still take place.
On the day of the game, the 18th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers will face Furman, who currently holds a record of 1-0. The game is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+/SEC Network+. This contest marks the third meeting between the two programs, with Tennessee having previously defeated Furman 32-6 in 1941 and 52-7 in 1942.
Looking ahead, Tennessee's financial commitments for nonconference games in the 2026 season total over $1.5 million. In addition to the payment to Furman, the Volunteers will pay $1.05 million to Kennesaw State, another opponent scheduled for September 19, 2026. Furthermore, Tennessee will receive $300,000 from Georgia Tech for a game at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on September 12, 2026, and will reciprocate with a $300,000 payment for a return game in 2027 at Neyland Stadium.
As the Southeastern Conference (SEC) shifts to a nine-game conference schedule, Tennessee has adjusted its nonconference scheduling strategy. The Volunteers are fully booked through 2029, but they will need to secure additional nonconference opponents for the 2030 and 2031 seasons. The financial landscape for these future matchups includes payments to various teams, with Tennessee set to pay $600,000 to Tennessee State in 2027 and $1.2 million to Western Michigan in the same year.
In 2028, Tennessee will face West Virginia in a neutral site game in Charlotte, where both teams will receive $2.5 million or 45% of net revenue, whichever amount is greater. Other notable payments include $1.3 million to Central Michigan and $550,000 to Chattanooga. The Volunteers will continue this trend of significant financial commitments, with future payments outlined for 2029 and beyond.
As Tennessee football prepares for this matchup against Furman, the financial implications of these contracts illustrate the growing trend of athletic departments seeking to balance competitive schedules with financial stability. The Volunteers' strategic scheduling decisions reflect their commitment to maintaining a robust football program while navigating the complexities of modern college athletics.
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