Week 5 · Sat, Oct 3, 2026
vs Auburn
Neyland Stadium
🍊 Alex Golesh returns to Knoxville
How to watch
Time TBA
The SEC and its partners set most windows about 12 days out.
By the numbers
Opponent-adjusted ratings from the 2026 season. Higher is better on every row, including defense.
| Metric | Tennessee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | +8.9 | +4.8 |
| Offense | +8.7 | -0.9 |
| Defense | +3.2 | +5.6 |
| Sched. strength | -3.9 | +1.7 |
| National rank | #17 | #40 |
Projected margin
Vols by 6.6
from last season's ratings
Rating gap
+4.1
neutral field
Opponent record
3-2
2026 season
The model's read
Auburn by this site's opponent-adjusted ratings, from the 2026 season.
+4.8
Rating
#40 of all FBS
-0.9
Offense
pts vs average
+5.6
Defense
higher is better
+1.7
Schedule
who they played
The model makes Tennessee favorites by 6.6 here, which it turns into a 69% chance of a Tennessee win — home field included.
See how often the model is right before leaning on that, and play the whole season out.
Head to head since 2000
1-7 in 8 meetings (L1). Total points 163–249. Last met in 2020: L 17–30.
Not the all-time series — 2000 is as far back as the data goes. Full record.
Players to watch
Auburn's leaders from the 2026 season.
Byrum Brown
QB
1,055
PASS YDS
Jeremiah Cobb
RB
245
RUSH YDS
Keshaun Singleton
WR
322
REC YDS
Elijah Melendez
LB
43
TCKL
Xavier Atkins
LB
3
SACK
What decided this game →
Every play ranked by how far it moved Tennessee's chance of winning.
Every number here is from the 2026 season — the 2026 season hasn't been played. Rosters turn over heavily through the transfer portal and the draft, so treat this as a starting point rather than a projection of who will actually be on the field. Voluntary Takes is an independent Vols fan site — not affiliated with UT Athletics.