Tennessee Hosts Auburn in Rivalry Matchup

Longtime SEC coaching rivals Rick Barnes and Bruce Pearl face off again, this time with Bruce's son Steven leading Auburn.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Tennessee (14-6, 4-3 SEC) will host Auburn (14-7, 5-3) on January 31st in a matchup of longtime SEC basketball rivals. The game features a new twist, as Auburn is now led by Bruce Pearl's son Steven Pearl, continuing the coaching rivalry between Tennessee's Rick Barnes and the Pearl family.

Why it matters

The Tennessee-Auburn rivalry has been one of the most intense in SEC basketball over the past decade, with Rick Barnes and Bruce Pearl leading their respective programs. Now with Bruce's son Steven taking over the Auburn program, the rivalry continues in a new form as the younger Pearl looks to lead his team to victory against his father's longtime adversary.

The details

Tennessee and Auburn have been fierce competitors in SEC basketball for years, with Rick Barnes and Bruce Pearl leading the charge. Now that Bruce Pearl's son Steven has taken over the Auburn program, the rivalry continues in a new way as the younger Pearl aims to lead his team to victory against his father's longtime rival.

  • The Tennessee-Auburn game will take place on January 31, 2026 at 8:30 PM EST.

The players

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team, who has led the program for over a decade and has had a long-standing rivalry with Bruce Pearl.

Bruce Pearl

The former head coach of the Auburn Tigers basketball team, who has had a long-running rivalry with Rick Barnes in the SEC.

Steven Pearl

The current head coach of the Auburn Tigers basketball team, and the son of former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl.

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What they’re saying

“I think Steven's done a really good job.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers (wn.com)

The takeaway

The Tennessee-Auburn basketball rivalry continues, but with a new twist as Bruce Pearl's son Steven has taken over the Auburn program. The younger Pearl will look to lead his team to victory against his father's longtime rival, Rick Barnes, in this highly anticipated SEC matchup.