The battle to determine the “real UT” will go down in September when the Texas Longhorns visit Knoxville for a matchup with the Tennessee Vols.
Texas and Tennessee haven’t met on the football field since 1969, when the Longhorns took down the Vols in the Cotton Bowl (Texas is 2-1 all-time against Tennessee, with all three matchups coming in the Cotton Bowl).
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The 2026 showdown between Texas and Tennessee will have a little extra hype because Arch Manning will be under center for the Longhorns. It’ll be the first time that a Manning has played in Neyland Stadium since Peyton Manning was the Vols’ quarterback in the 1990s (Eli Manning never played against the Vols while at Ole Miss).
Arch Manning receives warning from national media outlet about Tennessee Vols fans
The crowd in Neyland Stadium for Tennessee’s matchup against Texas on September 26 is expected to be raucous.
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CBS Sports, in fact, believes Vols fans will provide the “scariest environment” in college football in 2026 when Texas visits Knoxville.
Specifically, they think Tennessee fans will make life “hell” for Manning.
“Offering no prediction here on sustained loudness inside Neyland, but if this one’s competitive in the second half, record noise levels will be in jeopardy,” wrote CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford. “Tennessee fans are going to make Arch Manning’s life hell inside a checkered stadium.”
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When the Vols are playing well, Neyland Stadium is as intimidating as any stadium in college football. And I’m sure Neyland will be at its best when the Longhorns come to town.
The expectation, of course, is that Peyton will be in the house to watch his nephew play against his alma mater. Though I’m guessing a torn Peyton will try to stay away from the camera as much as possible during this one — he won’t want to take the attention away from Arch.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Nashville section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.