The Tennessee Volunteers football team is facing a scheduling conundrum after Nebraska canceled their non-conference series.

The Tennessee Volunteers football team is facing a scheduling conundrum after Nebraska canceled their non-conference series.

The Cornhuskers were set to visit Neyland Stadium in 2026, and the Vols were scheduled to travel to Lincoln in 2027. However, with Nebraska’s cancellation, Tennessee is left with a gap in their non-conference schedule.

 

One potential solution could be to schedule a game against the UCF Knights, led by head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh, a former Tennessee assistant coach, has been mentioned as a potential candidate to fill the gap in the Vols’ schedule.

 

Golesh, who served as the Vols’ tight ends coach and special teams coordinator from 2019 to 2021, has been the head coach at UCF since 2022. He has led the Knights to a 10-3 record in his first season, and they are expected to be a top contender in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) again in 2023.

 

Scheduling a game against UCF would not only provide Tennessee with a quality opponent, but it would also give the Vols a chance to face a familiar foe in Golesh. The game would also provide an opportunity for Golesh to return to Neyland Stadium, where he spent three seasons as an assistant coach.

 

“Alex is a great coach, and we have a lot of respect for him,” said Tennessee athletic director Danny White. “We’ll definitely consider scheduling a game against UCF in the future. We’re always looking for quality opponents, and UCF would certainly fit the bill.”

 

While nothing is official yet, there have been reports that Tennessee and UCF are in discussions about scheduling a game. The game would likely take place in 2026 or 2027, depending on the availability of both teams.

 

If the game were to happen, it would be a great opportunity for Tennessee to face a quality opponent from the AAC. UCF has been one of the top teams in the conference in recent years, and they would provide a stiff test for the Vols.

 

It would also be a great opportunity for Golesh to return to Neyland Stadium and face his former team. Golesh has spoken highly of his time at Tennessee, and he has maintained a good relationship with the Vols’ coaching staff.

 

“I have a lot of respect for Tennessee and the program that they’ve built,” said Golesh. “I enjoyed my time there, and I’m grateful for the experience. If we were to schedule a game against them, it would be a great opportunity for us to face a quality opponent and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the SEC.”

 

Overall, scheduling a game against UCF would be a great solution for Tennessee’s non-conference scheduling conundrum. It would provide the Vols with a quality opponent, and it would give Golesh a chance to return to Neyland Stadium and face his former team.