Florida State University Athletics
FSU to Play at Tennessee in SEC/ACC Challenge
6/5/2026 10:29:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State men's basketball team will play at Tennessee in this year's SEC/ACC Challenge, it was announced Friday. The Seminoles and Volunteers will meet in Knoxville on Tuesday, December 1.
"We're excited about the SEC/ACC Challenge," head coach Luke Loucks said. "Traveling to Tennessee will be a great early-season opportunity for our team as we continue to blend a highly rated signing class with a distinguished group of transfers. This game will be another piece of a strong non-conference schedule intentionally put together to prepare our team for the ACC and postseason."
This will be the fourth season of the SEC/ACC Challenge and the first time FSU and Tennessee have met in the annual event. FSU has previously played Georgia at home in both 2023 and 2025 and at LSU in 2024. Florida State has won two straight meetings in the series, defeating the Volunteers 60-57 in the 2019 Emerald Coast Classic and winning 101-90 in Tallahassee during the 1988-89 season.
Florida State welcomes 13 newcomers for the 2026-27 season, including eight four-star prospects. Loucks' first high school class is ranked as the nation's No. 11 prep signing class according to 247Sports, and the full class is the consensus No. 2 group in the ACC while ranking No. 16 nationally by 247Sports. The group of five transfers is first in the ACC and No. 4 in the country in On3's Team Transfer Portal Index.
Last season, the Seminoles posted an 18-15 record with a 10-8 mark in the ACC to set the program record for conference wins by a first-year head coach. The Seminoles displayed solid improvement over the course of the season, winning seven of their final eight games, and 10 of 12, before falling 80-79 to No. 1-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal. FSU's winning torrent over the final month of the season included a school-record five consecutive ACC road victories.
Louck's first team showcased an exciting brand of basketball as FSU led the ACC in turnovers forced per game and ranked second in the conference in turnover margin, steals, three-pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. The Seminoles had the conference's third-highest bench points average and were fourth in free throw attempts per game.
Season tickets are now on sale, providing fans a guaranteed seat location for every home game in the 2026-27 season starting at $150. Current season ticket holders have until August 20 to renew their existing seat locations. Following the renewal deadline, remaining seat locations and upgrade opportunities will be offered based on priority. For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit Seminoles.com/tickets or contact FSU's Ticket Office at 850-644-1830.
"We're excited about the SEC/ACC Challenge," head coach Luke Loucks said. "Traveling to Tennessee will be a great early-season opportunity for our team as we continue to blend a highly rated signing class with a distinguished group of transfers. This game will be another piece of a strong non-conference schedule intentionally put together to prepare our team for the ACC and postseason."
This will be the fourth season of the SEC/ACC Challenge and the first time FSU and Tennessee have met in the annual event. FSU has previously played Georgia at home in both 2023 and 2025 and at LSU in 2024. Florida State has won two straight meetings in the series, defeating the Volunteers 60-57 in the 2019 Emerald Coast Classic and winning 101-90 in Tallahassee during the 1988-89 season.
Florida State welcomes 13 newcomers for the 2026-27 season, including eight four-star prospects. Loucks' first high school class is ranked as the nation's No. 11 prep signing class according to 247Sports, and the full class is the consensus No. 2 group in the ACC while ranking No. 16 nationally by 247Sports. The group of five transfers is first in the ACC and No. 4 in the country in On3's Team Transfer Portal Index.
Last season, the Seminoles posted an 18-15 record with a 10-8 mark in the ACC to set the program record for conference wins by a first-year head coach. The Seminoles displayed solid improvement over the course of the season, winning seven of their final eight games, and 10 of 12, before falling 80-79 to No. 1-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal. FSU's winning torrent over the final month of the season included a school-record five consecutive ACC road victories.
Louck's first team showcased an exciting brand of basketball as FSU led the ACC in turnovers forced per game and ranked second in the conference in turnover margin, steals, three-pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. The Seminoles had the conference's third-highest bench points average and were fourth in free throw attempts per game.
Season tickets are now on sale, providing fans a guaranteed seat location for every home game in the 2026-27 season starting at $150. Current season ticket holders have until August 20 to renew their existing seat locations. Following the renewal deadline, remaining seat locations and upgrade opportunities will be offered based on priority. For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit Seminoles.com/tickets or contact FSU's Ticket Office at 850-644-1830.
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