Kentucky is trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since 2015 when they take the field Saturday night at Neyland Stadium to play the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Kickoff is at 7:45 pm EST on the SEC Network.
It’s going to be a raucous Saturday night in Knoxville. A sell-out crowd is on hand as the Vols go into Dark Mode. They’re 4-0 in blackout games and Josh Heupel is 20-0 outright as a home favorite. His teams have scored a touchdown in five plays or less every time they’ve faced the Wildcats. However, they have been scoreless in the first half of each of their last three games. That’s one trend Kentucky will need to remain consistent to have a shot at knocking off another Top 10 team.
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Look at that Tight End Touchdown
11/2/2024, 8:23:19 PM
Throwing it more to the tight end actually worked.
Explosive Offense?!?! Kentucky Scores First!
11/2/2024, 8:18:32 PM
Benching Brock Vandagriff lit a fire under the worst passing offense in the SEC. He connected with Hardley Gilmore for a 25-yard gain to start the drive, then hit Dane Key on third and eight for a gain of 17. They finished the drive by going five-wide and NOT running a QB draw. They threw and Josh Kattus was wide open for a 27-yard touchdown.
Kentucky can’t score in the red zone, so they’re scoring from outside of the red zone. What a time to be alive.
Kentucky Defense Holds Up to Force a Missed Field Goal
11/2/2024, 8:11:37 PM
Tennessee was rocking and rolling. It looked like things were going to get out of hand until Tennessee native Tre’vonn Rybka came up with a second down sack to put the Vols behind the chains. On third and long, Kentucky stopped the Vols about six yards short of the line to gain.
Rather than letting them kick the field goal from there, Mark Stoops accepted a Tennessee holding penalty. A great tackle on a screen pass forced a 43-yard field goal. Max Gilbert hit a low line drive and missed it, just his fourth miss in 16 attempts this season.
Another Empty Red Zone Possession
11/2/2024, 8:02:19 PM
It wasn’t the 2-yard line, but it is the fourth straight week Kentucky has gotten the ball inside the 10-yard line and came away with zero points.
The second down pass into the end zone was tipped into the air and nearly intercepted. Kentucky escaped by a hair and a Brock Vandagriff QB draw made it 4th and 2. Instead of taking the points, Mark Stoops chose to go for it. The play-action play design was creative, but Tennessee blitzed and played man. Nobody got open, resulting in a turnover on downs. We just can’t have nice things.
An Explosive Play?!?!?!
11/2/2024, 8:01:08 PM
Kentucky did not have one run for 30+ yards this season. On the first play from scrimmage, Jamarion Wilcox went 50 yards right through the heart of the second-best run defense in college football. Kentucky is inside the red zone three plays into the game.
“Vols” signage is absolutely gigantic
11/2/2024, 7:55:33 PM
Tennessee athletic director Danny White brought back the “VOLS” letters at the top of the stadium after fans had been clamoring for them for years. I can’t understate how big they arm. In a monstrosity of a stadium, they stand out in a ridiculous way.
Tennessee wins the toss and defers
11/2/2024, 7:54:08 PM
Josh Heupel has decided to let his defense go on the field first after winning the toss. This game will begin with Kentucky getting the football. All signs point to Brock Vandagriff getting the start.
Can Kentucky avoid another slow start? The Vols have jumped out early in every game since Heupel took over in Knoxville.
Beer Barrel Back?
11/2/2024, 7:46:44 PM
The Beer Barrel was traded back and forth for decades until the DUI tragedy that killed a Kentucky Wildcat one week prior to the 1998 matchup. The original still sits in the Tennessee equipment manager’s office. One Vol fan has created his own version of the Beer Barrel and even had mugs made for the occasion.
Packed House at Neyland
11/2/2024, 7:42:28 PM
Even though Erik Ainge and other UT hacks were describing this game as a CFB Playoff Dress Rehearsal, you couldn’t tell that by the way the fans are treating it. Tennessee fans filled most of the seats in the stadium more than 35 minutes before kickoff. They are not lacking any juice for this Dark Mode game.
Last-Minute Player Updates
11/2/2024, 7:37:29 PM
Daveren Rayner plans on using his redshirt this year. He has one game to retain his eligibility and Mark Stoops tells Tom Leach he will use it tonight. We may even see him some at Jack LB to spell JJ Weaver.
Brock Vandagriff will start at quarterback for Kentucky. Gavin Wimsatt will still be used from time to time.