West Virginia pursues brand growth and tourism through neutral-site games, scheduling Charlotte fixtures against Virginia in 2026, Tennessee in 2028, and Virginia again in 2032, all while guarding at least six home games. The plan targets alumni and fan bases beyond Morgantown, aiming to expand WVU’s footprint and revenue opportunities without sacrificing on-field success.

Beyond regional play, Wren Baker keeps the door open to international opportunities if a truly brand-boosting deal emerges. The strategy hinges on balancing exposure, logistics, and competitive viability to strengthen the program and the state’s tourism impact.

Tennessee has already lined up a non-conference slate through 2030 that meets the SEC’s new mandate for a nine-game league schedule and at least one high-quality non-conference foe each season. The Vols’ 2026-2030 calendar features Georgia Tech (2026, 2027), West Virginia (2028) and Washington (2029, 2030), aligning UT with ACC/Big Ten/Big 12 opposition or Notre Dame in the season’s non-conference tests.

Georgia Tech appears in a two-game deal spurred after Nebraska exited the series, with 2026 in Atlanta and 2027 in Neyland Stadium. West Virginia arrives in Charlotte for the 2028 Duke’s Mayo Classic, continuing UT’s recent non-conference presence in neutral-site showcases. Washington is set for a home (2029) and Seattle (2030) home-and-home, marking the first meetings between the programs as cross-country showdowns. The SEC’s move to nine conference games begins in 2026, reshaping scheduling strategy and travel dynamics for Tennessee fans and bettors.

Top-10 Tennessee women’s soccer pulled off a marquee road win at UCLA, grinding out a 1-0 victory that tightens their early-season narrative and solidifies their rising profile. Shae O’Rourke finished a perfectly-timed service in the 25th minute, steering the ball into the corner for her fourth goal of the year as Sydney Miller and Ally Brown earned the assists. Tennessee’s defense clamped down late, with Cayden Norris turning away five shots in her third straight shutout as UCLA peppered the goal with 17 attempts, only five on frame.

The win follows an extraordinary season-opening upset of No. 1 North Carolina and comes after a 9-0 rout of Eastern Kentucky, signaling a balanced attack and stingy defense. For fantasy minds, O’Rourke’s scoring pace alongside Norris’s reliable keeps provide a blueprint for Tennessee’s upside as the schedule intensifies, making this a team to monitor as the season unfolds.

USA TODAY’s ranking of the 25 best college football uniforms is a celebration of identity, history, and bold experimentation. Michigan sits at No. 1 with maize and blue, winged helmets, and a timeless aura that has defined the program for generations. Notre Dame and Ohio State follow, their iconic helmets and clean jersey silhouettes signaling prestige and consistency. The list weaves through programs known for tradition—Alabama, Penn State, Florida State—while spotlighting risk-takers like Oregon and Tulane, whose frequent palette changes and striking logos keep brands front and center. The piece ties uniform excellence to on-field ethos, recruiting allure, and moments etched into college football lore, underscoring how a look can become as recognizable as a playbook.

Beyond the top tier, several programs lean into distinctive motifs: Colorado’s Ralphie emblem and bold color blocks, Georgia’s classic yet steady presence, and Oregon’s Nike-driven experimentation that has reshaped the visual language of the sport. The narrative also nods to soul-satisfying details—the Ole Miss powder blue, USC’s Trojan decal, the Penn State clash with its understated elegance, and LSU’s Death Valley-ready white/black/yellow combos. In essence, the article argues that great uniforms are more than aesthetics; they are branding, intimidation, and fan culture rolled into one eye-catching package that resonates on the field and in fantasy lineups alike.

The ranking culminates with Michigan’s winged helmet as the gold standard in college football, a symbol that transcends era and style. As the sport leans into varied looks, managers and fans alike are reminded that a team’s kit can sharpen perception, shape opponent decisions, and provide a subtle edge in weekly attention and brand engagement—an often-overlooked factor in the modern game.

Nicky Anosike, two-time national champion with Tennessee, will join the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2025, a civic-legacy moment that cements Knoxville as home. Her story threads championship glory with community leadership, from returning to coach and mentor in local programs to leading Girls Inc. initiatives and camp clinics with Lady Vols alumni. The nod reflects not just on-court success but a lifetime of giving back to the city that shaped her career.

Her UT years—133 starts in 146 games, 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, plus All-Final Four honors—are highlighted by a return that transformed her identity from globetrotting pro to Knoxville advocate. The tribute honors a bond between Pat Summitt’s coaching ethos and Anosike’s life choices, underscoring a champion’s influence beyond the court and a community intertwined with Tennessee basketball.