Tennessee Tech is One of the Best Teams in the FCS

Kentucky football fans are desperate for a win, and wins aren’t easy to find on the rest of the schedule. At least there is still one game against an FCS opponent in late November. That should be easy, right? Tennessee Tech doesn’t look like a pushover.

Tennessee Tech is 5-0 for the first time since 1977. This week, the Golden Eagles jumped to No. 7 in the FCS rankings after dismantling Western Illinois 66-20. A 6-0 start is likely on the horizon with a game against a one-win Charleston Southern team scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Tennessee Tech has arguably the most explosive offense in the FCS. They lead the division in points per game with 56.6 and are second in scoring defense, allowing only 11.8 points per contest.

Quarterback Kekoa Visperas is an efficient passer, completing 65.4% of his passes for 13 touchdowns and only one interception, while averaging around 240 passing yards per game. The Golden Eagles have a balanced attack. They ranked fourth in the FCS in rushing (250.8 yards per game) behind the tandem of Quintell Quinn (362 yards, 6 TDs) and Q’Daryius Jennings (298 yards, 5 TDs).

The Kentucky defense has not been up to its usual high standard. Facing an explosive offense, even one from the lower ranks, isn’t ideal.

Each week, Bill Connelly compiles the SP+ rankings for all 766 teams that play college football across all divisions. Kentucky is ranked No. 65. Tennessee Tech cracks the Top 100 at No. 97. Using the power rankings, we can create a projected point spread. The Cats are only expected to be 16-point favorites, and that includes 2.5 points for homefield advantage.

Kentucky has had Trouble against FCS Opponents

It’s been ten years since Kentucky overcame a 14-point deficit to win. That game was against Eastern Kentucky. The Cats trailed by two touchdowns with only eight minutes to play when Dorian Baker became the touchdown-maker and Stoops-saver. He scored on a 5-yard pass with 52 seconds remaining and caught another in overtime to secure the comeback win.

The 2016 FCS game got off to a weird start. Austin Peay kicked off the game with a 63-yard touchdown-scoring drive. On a cold, rainy day at Kroger Field, Kentucky wanted to rest quarterback Stephen Johnson. Walk-on Luke Wright got the start, fumbled the snap, which led to a scoop-and-score. Johnson had to enter the game and it immediately flipped, leading to a 49-13 win.

In 2017, EKU returned to Kroger Field 16-10 in the third quarter before the Cats scored 17 unanswered to escape with a 27-16 victory.

The most recent FCS scare for the Cats was during a 10-win season. Liam Coen admitted after the Chattanooga game that the Wildcats wanted to be more pass-happy against the Mocs. It almost cost them. Chattanooga’s strength was in the trenches, led by future NFL Draft pick Cole Strange, and they grinded it out to a 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Kentucky scored two unanswered touchdowns, but the Mocs punched in one more score, making BBN sweat out an onside kick before the Wildcats left with a 28-23 win.

History tells us that these games can be tricky for Kentucky, and Tennessee Tech will certainly be a tricky opponent on Nov. 15.