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The Final Prep: Kentucky vs. Tennessee

Drew Franklinby: Drew Franklin7 hours agoDrewFranklinKSR
kentucky-fan-tennessee
Oct 28, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers fans watch the game during the second quarter at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

It’s game day in Lexington. Under the lights at Kroger Field, Kentucky will try to finally exorcise one of its longest-running demons: winning a home game that matters. The Wildcats have dropped 10 straight at home against SEC or Louisville, and ending that streak tonight against a ranked Tennessee team would help calm a frustrated fan base.

Last week’s overtime loss in Lexington left Kentucky with more questions, especially after the Wildcats came up empty on the goal line in a game they had every chance to win. Now they get another shot at the Volunteers, a rival that has won all but two games in Lexington since 1981.

Tennessee, meanwhile, comes in ranked No. 17 and looking to rebound from a loss to Alabama. Josh Heupel’s offense remains one of the fastest in the country, and the Vols are eager to get back to winning this week.

Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network. Let’s get you ready for it.

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Pregame Storylines

  1. Streaks and Statements: Kentucky is trying to avoid an 11th straight home loss against SEC or Louisville opponents. The Wildcats’ last home win in such a game came back in 2023, and Mark Stoops’ group knows that streak looms large over tonight’s showdown.
  2. Stoops Feeling the Heat: Mark Stoops is on the hot seat, and he knows it. His tone after last week’s overtime loss to Texas was noticeably different. For a coach who has always preached steadiness and going back to work, it was a sign of just how much pressure and disappointment he is feeling lately.
  3. Kentucky’s Red-Zone Response: The Wildcats’ inability to finish cost them last week against Texas. Stoops and OC Bush Hamdan emphasized red-zone execution all week, hoping to flip one of their biggest weaknesses into an edge against a defense with red zone weaknesses.
  4. Containing the Tempo: Tennessee continues to run one of the league’s fastest offenses, averaging over 70 plays per game. Kentucky’s defense must control the clock and keep the Vols off schedule, or the night could get long in a hurry.
  5. Vols’ Confidence Check: Tennessee has two SEC losses, but they were against powerhouses in Georgia and Alabama. A loss in Lexington would mark back-to-back SEC setbacks and effectively end their playoff hopes, giving Kentucky a perfect chance to play spoiler.
  6. A Rivalry Rooted in Frustration: Kentucky fans know this history all too well. The Wildcats managed just two home wins over Tennessee in more than 40 years, and one of those came with a wide receiver playing quarterback. Kentucky has been haunted by heartbreak in this series for decades, and another loss tonight would only deepen the frustration in a rivalry that has defined so many Kentucky football seasons.

Kentucky vs. No. 17 Tennessee: How to Watch/Listen

  • Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. ET
  • TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic)
  • Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
  • AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
  • FM: 98.1 WBUL
  • Online: iHeart Radio
  • Sirius XM: 106 or 190 (UK)

Player Spotlight

  • Kentucky QB, #8 Cutter Boley: The redshirt freshman had his best game yet against Texas, 31 of 39 passes for a career-high 258 yards while adding his first rushing touchdown. His 31 completions were the most by a Kentucky freshman QB since Jared Lorenzen in 2000. How he handles Tennessee’s pressure will go a long way in determining whether Kentucky can finally get an SEC win
  • Kentucky RB, #2 Donte Dowdell: With Seth McGowan a game-time decision, Dowdell could see an expanded workload in the backfield. The sophomore transfer has not matched expectations so far this year, including on last week’s goal line stand. Dowdell’s biggest game was in the first one, when his 79-yard run against Toledo powered his only 100-yard game this season.
  • Kentucky ILB, #3 Alex Afari Jr.: Afari continues to anchor the Wildcats’ defense, ranking among the SEC’s leaders in tackles. His range and instincts make him the key to containing Tennessee’s offense.
  • Tennessee QB, #6 Joey Aguilar: The graduate transfer from Appalachian State (by way of UCLA) has taken command of Tennessee’s offense in his first SEC season. Aguilar leads the SEC in passing yards and passing yards per game, and he’s third in total offense and passing touchdowns.
  • Tennessee WR, #17 Chris Brazzell II: Brazzell is having a career season catching passes from Aguilar. He leads the SEC and is tied for fifth in the FBS in receiving touchdowns (7), he ranks 14th in the FBS and second in the SEC in receiving yards (602), and he is 15th in the FBS and second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (86.0).
  • Tennessee LB, #7 Arion Carter: Carter has emerged as one of the SEC’s top defenders, leading the league with 61 tackles through six games, nearly nine per game. His 17-tackle performance and game-saving pass breakup in the overtime win at Mississippi State earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His 8.71 tackles per game are also tops in the SEC.

Uniform Watch

The Cats will wear their all-blacks for tonight’s game, but did not tell the fan base to wear black, so it may or may not be a blackout.

Injury Reports

For Kentucky, the injury report looks familiar, although Seth McGowan as a game-time decision is worrisome.

  • WR Troy Stellato: Out
  • CB DJ Waller Jr.: Out
  • RB Jamarion Wilcox: Out
  • OLB Jacob Smith: Out
  • LB Devin Smith: Out
  • DL Nic Smith: Out
  • WR David Washington Jr.: Out
  • TE Elijah Brown: Out
  • RB Seth McGowan: Questionable
  • DL Kahlil Saunders: Probable

Two starting cornerbacks are among the four players listed as out for the Vols.

  • DB Rickey Gibson III: Out
  • WR Travis Smith Jr.: Out
  • DB Jermod McCoy: Out
  • LB Ben Bolton: Out
  • LB Arion Carter: Questionable

Last Meeting / All-Time Series

Last year in Knoxville, the Volunteers pulled away late to beat Kentucky 28-18, led by Dylan Sampson’s 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns. You may also remember this game as the one that took out Brock Vandagraff with a nasty hit by James Pearce Jr., a future NFL draft pick. One positive memory from that game: Jamarion Wilcox’s 50-yard run, part of his 102-yard game.

As for the all-time series, you know how bad it is.

All-time series: Tennessee leads 85-26-9, winning all but three games since 1984.

2025 Team Schedules/Results

Kentucky (2-4, 0-4 SEC)

  • vs. Toledo (W, 24-16)
  • vs. #20 Ole Miss. (L, 30-23)
  • vs. Eastern Michigan (W, 48-23)
  • at South Carolina (L, 35-13)
  • at #12 Georgia (L, 35-14)
  • vs. #21 Texas
  • vs. #17 Tennessee
  • at Auburn
  • vs. Florida
  • vs. Tennessee Tech
  • at #10 Vanderbilt
  • at #19 Louisville

#17 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC)

  • vs. Syracuse (W, 45-26)
  • vs. East Tennessee State (W, 72-17)
  • vs. #6 Georgia (L, 44-41 OT)
  • vs. UAB (W, 56-24)
  • @ Mississippi State (W, 41-34 OT)
  • vs. Arkansas (W, 34-31)
  • @ #6 Alabama (L, 37-20)
  • @ Kentucky
  • vs. #13 Oklahoma
  • vs. New Mexico State
  • @ Florida
  • vs. #10 Vanderbilt

Join The Discussion over at KSBoard

Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard to interact with the KSR crew during the game. A live discussion can be found in the game thread, plus several other topics and conversations about the Wildcats and more.

Point Spread

Point Spread: Tennessee -8.5
Over/Under: 54.5
Moneyline: Tennessee -310/Kentucky +250

Coaches’ Comments

Mark Stoops

Brad White

Bush Hamdan

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Weather Report

Saturday marks the first pack-a-coat game in Lexington. Expect a high of 61 and a low of 46, with rain throughout the day. It will be in the low 50s at kickoff, but the rain should be gone by game time.

Listen to the KSR Pregame Show

Tune in to the KSR Pregame Show at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, live from KSBar and Grille. Even better, get to KSBar and Grille before, during, and after the game.

Go Cats. Beat the low-down, dirty Vols.

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2025-10-25