LIVE BLOG: Kentucky in Tennessee

Barion Brown is out with a rib injury

Nov 2, 2024, 8:50:12 p.m

The Kentucky wide receiver picked up 15 yards on a screen pass. When he was attacked, he was shot in the ribs. Dick Gabriel reports he left the casualty tent with ice on his side. Consider it questionable whether he will return.

First quarter stats: Kentucky leads 7-0

Nov 2, 2024, 8:44:06 p.m

Tennessee didn't score a point in the first four straight quarters.

That wasn't a punishment?

Nov 2, 2024, 8:39:53 p.m

Before Brock Vandagriff intercepted him, he stumbled out of bounds. A Tennessee player standing on the sideline did not attempt to catch the Kentucky quarterback. He reached out and threw Vandagriff to the ground. The officer looked closely, but no flag was thrown. Why?

Kentucky is getting it back!

November 2, 2024, 8:38 p.m

Two plays after Kentucky's interception, Keeshawn Silver ripped the ball out of Dylan Sampson's hands and Jamon Dumas-Johnson retrieved it. This game approaches banana land.

Another tip-ball interception

Nov 2, 2024, 8:33:31 p.m

When Brock Vandagriff throws a pickaxe, there's a good chance it happened after he hit one of his players. He tried to lead Hardley Gilmore inside, away from the defense. The freshman reached out and it slipped through his hands and into the Tennessee defender's. Vols' ball at the Kentucky 45-yard line.

Tennessee drops a touchdown

Nov 2, 2024, 8:27:48 p.m

It looked like Kentucky had called a costly penalty. A facemask wiped away a Tennessee 3rd-and-14 and moved the chains for the Vols. Nico saw the match he wanted and played a deep ball to Chris Brazzell. It was a beautiful pass and looked like a 49-yard touchdown, but the Tulane transfer couldn't survive the impact on the ground. The ball was dropped and the Cats were able to beat Nico on third-and-long, giving Kentucky two straight stops.

Look at this tight end touchdown

Nov 2, 2024, 8:23:19 p.m

Throwing it more to the tight end actually worked.

Explosives crime?!?! Kentucky scores first!

Nov 2, 2024, 8:18:32 p.m

Brock Vandagriff's benching 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 and then hit Dane Key on third-and-8 for a 17-yard gain. They finished the drive with a five yard lead and NO 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 score from outside the red zone. What a time to be alive.

Kentucky's defense holds up to force a missed field goal

Nov 2, 2024, 8:11:37 p.m

Tennessee rocked and rolled. It seemed like things were getting out of control until Tennessee native Tre'vonn Rybka came up with a second down to get the Vols behind the scenes. On third-and-long, Kentucky stopped the Vols about six yards from the line for the win.

Instead of letting them kick the field goal from there, Mark Stoops accepted a penalty from Tennessee. A great tackle on a screen pass forced a 43-yard field goal. Max Gilbert hit a low line drive and missed, only his fourth miss in 16 attempts this season.

Another empty red zone possession

Nov 2, 2024, 8:02:19 p.m

It wasn't the 2-yard line, but it's the fourth week in a row that Kentucky got 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 came within a whisker and a QB draw by Brock Vandagriff created 4th-and-2. Instead of taking the points, Mark Stoops decided to do so. The play-action game design was creative, but Tennessee blitzed and played man. No one could get open, which led to a turnover on downs. We just can't have nice things.

An explosive game?!?!?!

Nov 2, 2024, 8:01:08 p.m

Kentucky hasn't had a single rush of 30 yards this season. On the first play from scrimmage, Jamarion Wilcox went 50 yards through the middle of the second-best run defense in college football. Kentucky is in the red zone after three plays.

The “Vols” signage is absolutely gigantic

Nov 2, 2024, 7:55:33 p.m

Tennessee athletic director Danny White brought back the “VOLS” letters at the top of the stadium after fans requested them for years. I can't underestimate how big they are. In the monstrosity of a stadium, they stand out in a ridiculous way.

Tennessee wins the toss and shifts

Nov 2, 2024, 7:54:08 p.m

Josh Heupel decided to let his defense go to the field first after winning the throw. This game starts with Kentucky getting the football. All signs point to Brock Vandagriff going first.

Can Kentucky avoid another slow start? The Vols have been eliminated early in every game since Heupel took over in Knoxville.

Beer keg back?

Nov 2, 2024, 7:46:44 p.m

The beer keg was traded back and forth for decades until a drunken tragedy a week before the 1998 duel that claimed the life of a Kentucky Wildcat. The original still resides in the equipment manager's office in Tennessee. One Vol fan created his own version of the beer keg and even had mugs made for the occasion.

Full house in Neyland

Nov 2, 2024, 7:42:28 p.m

Even though Erik Ainge and other UT hacks have described this game as a CFB playoff dress rehearsal, you couldn't tell by the way the fans treated it. Tennessee fans filled most of the stadium's seats more than 35 minutes before kickoff. They don't lack juice for this dark mode game.

Last minute player updates

Nov 2, 2024, 7:37:29 p.m

Daveren Rayner plans to redshirt this year. He has one more game to retain his eligibility and Mark Stoops tells Tom Leach he will use it tonight. Maybe we'll even see him at Jack LB to spell JJ Weaver.