The Nebraska Cornhuskers have called off their home-and-home series with the Tennessee Volunteers, originally scheduled for the 2026-27 seasons, and this decision comes with a hefty price tag. According to Brett McMurphy from The Action Network, Nebraska will have to pay 1million for their choice, as the buyout for each of the two scheduled games with Tennessee is 500,000.
The series was meant to kick off with Nebraska hosting Tennessee in 2026 in Lincoln, followed by a game in Knoxville in 2027. However, the cancellation was initiated by the Cornhuskers, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who noted Nebraska’s desire for eight home games in 2027 due to renovations planned for Memorial Stadium.
It seems the Cornhuskers were prepared to pay this amount. Tennessee’s athletic director, Danny White, emphasized that the cancellation was unilaterally made by Nebraska in a “correction” quote tweet responding to Thamel’s initial report.
“Correction: Tennessee is not canceling this series. Nebraska did,” White tweeted on Friday morning. “We are quite disappointed that they chose not to play these games, especially with 2026 approaching.”
Despite the financial implications, the cancellation is undoubtedly disappointing for Tennessee fans and college football enthusiasts alike. The two storied programs have faced each other only three times, with the Volunteers claiming victory in their most recent matchup at the 2016 Music City Bowl.
“Correction: Tennessee is not the one canceling this series; Nebraska is,” White tweeted on Friday morning. “We are very disappointed by their decision not to play these games, especially with 2026 just around the corner.”
Despite the financial fallout, the cancellation is certainly disheartening for Tennessee fans and college football followers. The two historic programs have met only three times, with the Volunteers winning their latest encounter at the 2016 Music City Bowl.
Our aim is to try to replace this with another home-and-home series, but I’m not sure if that’s feasible. It’s going to be quite a challenge. Currently, there isn’t a single opponent available for this. We’re reaching out to see if anyone is willing to adjust their schedule to play us. It’s much easier to arrange a one-time neutral site game than to find someone who can commit to two consecutive years and align dates. Typically, you need 6 to 9 years of planning to set up that kind of agreement.”
Overall, it will be intriguing to see what the future holds for both Nebraska and Tennessee, but their devoted fanbases will surely show up regardless. However, it’s a tough blow for the Cornhuskers as they step away from the planned home-and-home series with the Volunteers
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