President Donald Trump is expected at Neyland Stadium as No. 1 Texas visits Tennessee for a massive SEC opener featuring Arch Manning on Saturday.
The Texas Longhorns' first SEC road game of 2026 was already going to command the college football spotlight. Now the scene at Neyland Stadium is getting even bigger.
President Donald Trump is expected to attend Saturday's matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 13 Tennessee in Knoxville, according to a White House official. The Sept. 26 showdown kicks off at noon ET on ABC and serves as the SEC opener for both programs.
Trump's expected appearance adds another layer to a weekend that already includes ESPN's "College GameDay," which will originate from Knoxville for the 13th time. The first two hours of the show will air from Ayres Hall before the final hour moves inside Neyland Stadium ahead of kickoff.
Texas arrives with one of college football's biggest names at quarterback. Arch Manning has thrown for 664 yardsthrough the Longhorns' first three games, while running back Hollywood Smothers leads Texas with 198 rushing yards and wide receiver Cam Coleman has 178 receiving yards.
Tennessee will counter with freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who has thrown for 552 yards, while DeSean Bishop leads the Volunteers with 286 rushing yards.
Trump most recently attended a college football game in January, when Indiana defeated Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship.
His expected appearance in Knoxville continues a pattern of attending prominent college football events during his time in national politics.
The atmosphere shouldn't need much additional fuel.
Neyland Stadium is sold out for the 30th consecutive game, and Tennessee will stage its "Checker Neyland" promotion, filling the stadium with alternating orange and white sections.
There's also a Manning connection beyond the Texas quarterback. Peyton Manning, the Tennessee legend and Arch Manning's uncle, is expected to be among those in Knoxville for the matchup.
For Texas, Saturday represents its first regular-season meeting with Tennessee and its first trip to Neyland Stadium. The programs have met three times previously, all in the Cotton Bowl, with Texas holding a 2-1 series advantage.
With the nation's No. 1 team, College GameDay, the Manning family and now a presidential visit converging on Knoxville, Saturday's SEC opener has become much more than another conference game.
