Tennessee will open its 2026 football season versus Furman on Sept. 5. The season opener is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium (SEC Network+).
The Paladins will play one game before facing Tennessee. Furman will kick off its regular season with a Thursday matchup against Anderson University on Aug. 27 at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina (7 p.m. EDT).
On Tuesday, Furman head coach Clay Hendrix named fifth-year quarterback Jake Garcia the Paladins' starter.
"Jake will be our starter in game one," Hendrix said. "He didn't get here until summer, but when we considered what he's done and the amount and quality of work he's already put in, both on the field and off the field, we believe he gives us the best chance to be successful. "He's a talented guy who can make all the throws, and he has a good understanding of what we're trying to do. He's also shown his mobility to keep plays alive. In his position he needs to be a leader of our team, which we think he is becoming when considering how the players have responded to him so far. The way he came in and went to work earned the respect of his teammates."
More: Who Tennessee's football opponents play one week before facing Vols
Garcia transferred to Furman from Michigan. Before his one season with the Wolverines, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback also played at East Carolina (2024), Missouri (2023) and Miami (2021-22).
The 2021 four-star prospect committed and signed with the Hurricanes on Dec. 16, 2020 during the early signing period. Tennessee was one of 10 top schools for his commitment, along with Arizona State, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Florida State, San Jose State, Georgia and USC.
The Vols offered Garcia a scholarship on Jan. 31, 2019.
Although things can change, these are the schools I will be taking a closer look at. Thank you to all the coaches that have recruited me pic.twitter.com/5uaeJA7PS2
— Jake Garcia (@JakeGarcia14) July 30, 2019
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Furman football names starting quarterback, former Tennessee target