Tennessee has filled a spot on its 2025 schedule. According to documents obtained in a records request by FBSchedules.com, the Vols will host FCS program East Tennessee State in Knoxville on Sept. 6, 2025.

UT will pay ETSU $575,000 for the trip to Rocky Top. The teams last met in 2018, a 59-3 home victory for the Vols.

ETSU produced an upset in its last game against an SEC opponent in the state of Tennessee. The Buccaneers memorably knocked off Vanderbilt 23-3 in Nashville, spoiling Clark Lea’s debut as the Commodores’ head coach. Last season, Mississippi State defeated ETSU 56-7 in Starkville.

Tennessee now has 3 nonconference opponents scheduled for 2025. UT opens the 2025 season against Syracuse in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game. The Vols also play UAB on Sept. 20, 2025.

The SEC has not yet announced how many conference games teams will play in 2025. The conference is sticking with 8 games for the 2024 season when Oklahoma and Texas join the league.