LEXINGTON, Ky. – The blue moon of Kentucky shines brightly.
Tennessee and the Wildcats may no longer play for a piece of glorified beer barrel hardware, but the two’s close-knit relationship isn’t any lesser due to the abscence of a physical reward. The No. 17 Vols are searching for a bounce-back showing after a rocky road performance at Alabama last week. Head coach Josh Heupel’s group has dropped consecutive away contests in each of the last three seasons, a streak they must put to bed tonight if they wish to survive into the College Football Playoff.
Kentucky enters the bout coming off an overtime heartbreaker to Texas, a low-scoring affair that did feature a strong showing from quarterback Cutter Boley. The freshman completed 31 of his 39 passes to give his team a shot to win.
The Vols haven’t dropped a game in Lexington since 2017, but have had a knack for playing in one-score games so far this campaign.
Follow along for live updates from The Daily Beacon.
Live updates
FINAL: Tennessee 56, Kentucky 34
2:19 4Q: Thomas gains seven yards into the redzone.
4:41 4Q: Bishop rumbles for four yards into Wildcats’ territory.
8:12 4Q: Laros’ kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 56, Kentucky 34
Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:23
8:19 4Q TOUCHDOWN: Hester dances in from seven yards to the pylon.
11:44 4Q: Boley hits Willie Rodriguez for 18 yards to cross the logo.
13:35 4Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 56, Kentucky 27
Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:19
13:38 4Q TOUCHDOWN: Bishop enters the endzone untouched from five yards out.
END OF 3RD QUARTER
:27 3Q: Aguilar hits Staley for 56 yards over the middle as the Vols’ set up shop in the redzone.
:54 3Q: Laros’ kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 49, Kentucky 27
Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:52
1:03 3Q TOUCHDOWN: Boley finds Miller on a last-ditch effort in the front corner of the endzone from 28 yards out. Kentucky can’t get the two-point conversion.
3:48 3Q: Ty Redmond is flagged for pass interference on third down, moving the Wildcats across midfield.
5:46 3Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 49, Kentucky 21
Drive: 5 plays, 63 yards, 1:29
5:47 3Q TOUCHDOWN: Lewis rumbles in from two yards out for six.
6:57 3Q: Aguilar keeps on rolling with a 50-yard shot to Brazzell, putting Tennessee at the Wildcats’ 15-yard line.
8:05 3Q: Dominic Bailey sacks Boley for a loss of three yards on third down, setting up Jacob Kauwe for an eventual missed 55-yard field goal. Tennessee gets the ball on its own 45-yard line.
10:06 3Q: Dowdell rushes for 16 yards and into Tennessee territory.
10:40 3Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 42, Kentucky 21
Drive: 2 plays, 70 yards, :25
10:48 3Q TOUCHDOWN: Aguilar throws a rocket 62 yards to Matthews for the score.
11:48 3Q: Ethan Utley swallows up a third down screen to force a Kentucky punt. Laros boots it just 22 yards to the Vols’ 30-yard line.
13:48 3Q: Boley rolls right, finding a streaking Law for 32 yards into Tennessee territory through a string of missed tackles.
15:00 3Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
HALFTIME
:05 2Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 35, Kentucky 21
Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 1:32
:09 2Q TOUCHDOWN: Aguilar hooks up with Davis once again, this time for 13 yards in the endzone.
:18 2Q: Tennessee reaches field goal range as Aguilar connects with Ethan Davis for a gain of ten yards to Kentucky’s 37-yard line.
:28 2Q: Vols cross midfield as Aguilar scrambles for four yards to the Wildcats’ 47-yard line.
1:37 2Q: Laros’ kick is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 28, Kentucky 21
Drive: 16 plays, 96 yards, 8:35
1:41 2Q TOUCHDOWN: Boley hits J.J. Hester in the back of the endzone for a touchdown.
1:56 2Q: Law takes the end-around for 13 yards and an easy first down.
2:27 2Q: Dowdell hauls in a seven yard completion, coming up a yard short of the line to gain on third down in the redzone. Kentucky will go for it on fourth and one from the Vols’ 19-yard line.
6:13 2Q: Kentucky passes midfield as Caleb Herring is caught offsides.
10:26 2Q: Aguilar misfires on third and long, bringing out the punt team. Ross’ kick sails 42 yards and Kentucky will be pinned deep at its own 4-yard line after a hold during the return.
11:19 2Q: David Sanders Jr. is flagged for holding, setting Tennessee well behind the sticks.
12:10 2Q: Vols cross midfield as Aguilar finds Radarious Jackson for 19 yards to the Kentucky 46-yard line.
12:39 2Q: Laros’ kickoff is returned 31 yards by Peyton Lewis to Tennessee’s 33-yard line.
Tennessee 28, Kentucky 14
Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:13
12:46 2Q TOUCHDOWN: Miller beats Boo Carter, hauling in a 56-yard catch and run into the endzone.
13:52 2Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 28, Kentucky 7
Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:15
13:55 2Q TOUCHDOWN: DeSean Bishop rushes for one yard into paydirt.
END OF 1ST QUARTER
:27 1Q TURNOVER: Hardley Gilmore IV fumbles, enducing a wild loose-ball sequence that concludes with an eventual recovery from Jadon Perlotte. A Kentucky unnecessary roughness call sets Tennessee up at the Wildcats’ 6-yard line.
1:49 1Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 21, Kentucky 7
Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:11
1:49 1Q TOUCHDOWN: Star Thomas carries into the endzone from a single yard out, one play after bursting 17 yards to the goal line to set up the score.
2:51 1Q: Jack Van Dorselaer gets nabbed for holding, backing Tennessee up the Vols to the Wildcats’ 18-yard line.
4:00 1Q: Aguilar bombs a throw 47 yards complete to Brazzell to set the Vols up at Kentucky’s 25-yard line.
4:41 1Q: Boley hits Cameron Miller for 10 yards but comes up a yard short of the sticks on third down. Laros’ punts 38 yards to Tennessee’s 28-yard line.
5:11 1Q: Aguilar’s third down pass to Peyton Lewis is incomplete, and Tennessee is forced to punt. Ross’ boot travels 47 yards to the Wildcats’ 26-yard line.
6:19 1Q: Laros’ kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 14, Kentucky 7
Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, :37
6:31 1Q TOUCHDOWN: Kendrick Law takes a screen pass 71 yards, speeding down the sideline for six.
6:56 1Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 14, Kentucky 0
7:04 1Q TOUCHDOWN: Edrees Farooq intercepts Boley, tipping the football to himself and running it back for six.
9:13 1Q: Kentucky crosses midfield as Cutter Boley finds DJ Miller for 14 yards near the sideline.
10:48 1Q: Daveren Rayner sacks Aguilar for a loss of 11 yards and Tennessee goes three-and-out. Jackson Ross’ punt travels 44 yards to the Wildcats’ 46-yard line.
11:46 1Q: Tennessee’s defense gets off the field after allowing a single first down on Kentucky’s opening drive. Laros’ punt travels 42 yards to the Vols’ 17-yard line.
13:41 1Q: Turbyville’s kickoff is down for a touchback.
Tennessee 7, Kentucky 0
Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:19
13:47 1Q TOUCHDOWN: Aguilar hits a wide open Chris Brazzell II for 35 yards in the back of the endzone.
14:38 1Q: Joey Aguilar’s first pass attempt is complete to Mike Matthews for a gain of 14 yards. Tennessee is across midfield after a Wildcats’ facemask penalty.
15:00 1Q: Aidan Laros bangs the opening kickoff for a touchback.
Coin toss: Kentucky wins the toss, defers to the second half.
Injury report
Tennessee
DB Rickey Gibson – OUT
WR Travis Smith Jr. – OUT
DB Jermod McCoy – OUT
LB Ben Bolton – OUT
LB Arion Carter – GTD
Kentucky
WR Troy Stellato – OUT
DB DJ Waller Jr. – OUT
RB Jamarion Wilcox – OUT
OLB Jacob Smith – OUT
ILB Devin Smith – OUT
OLB Steven Soles Jr. – OUT
DL Nic Smith – OUT
WR David Washington Jr. – OUT
TE Elijah Brown – OUT
RB Seth McGowan – GTD
DB Jantzen Dunn – GTD
How to watch Tennessee football
The Vols and Wildcats will be featured on SEC Network with a 7:45 p.m. ET kick. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic will handle the broadcast duties.
Mike Keith will handle radio broadcast duties on the local Vol Network Affiliate. He will be joined by analyst Ramon Foster, alongside co-host Jayson Swain, while Brent Hubbs reports from the sideline.
If you’re looking for a Spanish broadcast, you can follow along with Carlos Lopez on WNML AM 990, or the Sports Animal App, as well as the Tennessee Athletics app. A stream can also be found on UTSports.com.
Uniform matchup
Tennessee is set to break out its all-white look for the second time this season, opting for a true icy look with white cleats and accesories. The Vols will wear black gloves however.
Kentucky counters with its blackout combination, featuring an blue alternate Wildcats logo on the helmet.
