Tennessee announces ACC/SEC challenge opponent, and it’s not a matchup that will inspire much excitement
The Vols’ ACC/SEC challenge opponent is set, and it’s not exactly a marquee opponent.
If there’s one thing about Tennessee basketball when it comes to scheduling, they certainly won’t back down from anybody.
The Vols are regulars in preseason tournaments and have been a part of home-and-home series against college basketball’s best in non-conference play. Whether that’s Kansas, Purdue, Illinois, or others, Tennessee has matched up against them.
However, that’s not exactly likely to be the case when the Vols participate in the annual ACC/SEC challenge at the start of December. The interconference matchups were announced on Friday, and Tennessee drew Florida State, who they will face at the Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee will face Florida State in the ACC/SEC Challenge in Knoxville on Dec. 1
The teams have met nine times in their history, with Tennessee holding a 5-4 edge in the series. The most recent matchup between the schools came in the 2019-2020 shortened season. Florida State defeated Tennessee 60-57 in Niceville, FL at the Emerald Coast Classic. That FSU team would go on to win the ACC that season with a 26-5 overall record and 16-4 ACC mark. However, postseason play was canceled by COVID.
Things have gone downhill for FSU basketball since that season. They made the Sweet 16 the following season, but they’ve missed the tournament every year since then and have been mired in mediocrity. Things don’t look to be all that different in 2026-27 either.
As such, while it’s always notable to face off against a team from a major conference, in this case, it’s a matchup that won’t likely move the needle much for Tennessee when their resume is evaluated late in the season.