The return of a Pacific-10 Conference opponent and home games against Florida, Alabama and LSU highlight the 2006 Tennessee football schedule, released Tuesday by UT Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton.

California opens the slate with a Sept. 2 visit to Neyland Stadium, marking the Golden Bears' third appearance in Knoxville. Tennessee defeated Cal 38-12 in 1987 after dropping a 27-17 decision in 1977. The 2006 game is part of a two-year contract that finds UT making a return trip to Berkeley,

Calif., the following season.

"With a number of our players from California, as well as being a key recruiting area, we look forward to this series against a quality Pac-10 opponent," Hamilton said. "I know our fans will enjoy visiting the Bay Area in 2007."

The Vols originally were scheduled to play a two-game series against Boston College, but a change was necessary after last year's conference realignments.

"Openings in the 2006 and 2007 seasons became available upon Boston College's entrance into the ACC," Hamilton said. "We talked to a number of institutions, but the games with Cal seemed to make a great deal of sense."

Tennessee last faced a Pac-10 foe in a 1997 win at UCLA.

Additional 2006 home games are against Florida (Sept. 16), Marshall (Sept.

23), Alabama (Oct. 21), LSU (Nov. 4) and Kentucky (Nov. 25). Tennessee's

road contests are at Memphis (Sept. 30), Georgia (Oct. 7), South Carolina

(Oct. 28), Arkansas (Nov. 11) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 18).

The SEC Championship Game takes place Dec. 2 in Atlanta.

2006 Tennessee Schedule:

Sept. 2, California in Knoxville

Sept. 16, Florida in Knoxville

Sept. 23, Marshall in Knoxville

Sept. 30, Memphis in Memphis

Oct. 7, Georgia in Athens, Ga.

Oct. 21, Alabama in Knoxville

Oct. 28, South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.

Nov. 4, LSU in Knoxville

Nov. 11, Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

Nov. 18, Vanderbilt in Nashville

Nov. 25, Kentucky in Knoxville

Dec. 2, SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, Ga.

Additional UT football schedules, previously released:

2004 Tennessee Schedule:

Sept. 4, UNLV in Knoxville

Sept. 18, Florida in Knoxville

Sept. 25, Louisiana Tech in Knoxville

Oct. 2, Auburn in Knoxville

Oct. 9, Georgia in Athens, Ga.

Oct. 16, Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.

Oct. 23, Alabama in Knoxville

Oct. 30, South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. Nov. 6, Notre Dame in Knoxville

Nov. 20, Vanderbilt in Nashville

Nov. 27, Kentucky in Knoxville

Dec. 4, SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, Ga.

2005 Tennessee Schedule:

Sept. 3, UAB in Knoxville

Sept. 17, Florida in Gainesville, Fla.

Sept. 24, LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Oct. 1, Mississippi in Knoxville

Oct. 8, Georgia in Knoxville

Oct. 22, Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Oct. 29, South Carolina in Knoxville

Nov. 5, Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

Nov. 12, Memphis in Knoxville

Nov. 19, Vanderbilt in Knoxville

Nov. 26, Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

Dec. 3, SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, Ga.