Why are so many kickoff times still TBD?
That is standard. Schools often publish the season schedule months before television windows are assigned. In other words, the date is fixed first, while the exact broadcast slot comes later. The right way to build a fan resource around that reality is not to fake precision. It is to surface the dates clearly, keep time language explicit, and update when official announcements arrive.
What this site does in the meantime
Vols Countdown uses the official game date as the stable planning anchor. On countdown pages, the live clock runs against a clearly disclosed midday placeholder until a real kickoff time is released. That preserves the utility of the page without pretending the time is final.
How fans should plan around TBD games
If you are booking lodging, requesting time off, or deciding whether an away game is realistic, assume the date is real and the exact start time is not yet firm. That is especially important for same-day drives and long-distance trips, where a noon kickoff and a night kickoff create completely different logistics.