Here are some quick thoughts on Kentucky’s 50-16 loss to Tennessee in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.

What it means: The loss to Tennessee means what most Kentucky fans have feared during the team’s current losing streak: the Cats are on their way to missing a bowl game after beginning the year with a 5-1 record. Kentucky still has one game left this season, and a win would still elevate the team to bowl eligibility. Having said that, Kentucky has now lost five straight games, all by double digits, and it has been outscored 113-47 in its last two games. This team is trending negatively, and it has only appeared more helpless every week. Kentucky was steamrolled by Tennessee on Saturday, and unless the Cats can fix a bevy of issues during next week’s bye it will lose to Louisville and finish the year with a discouraging 5-7 record.

What I liked: The way Kentucky opened the game. The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards on 13 plays before settling for an Austin MacGinnis field goal at the Tennessee 15 yard line. Although the drive didn’t end with a touchdown, the Kentucky offense appeared sharp and in rhythm as it marched the length of the field. The Cats took an early lead and at the time it seemed they had put last week’s loss to Georgia behind them and had turned a corner against Tennessee. That’s obviously not how the rest of the game played out, but Kentucky began the game as well as any fans in the Big Blue Nation could have hoped.

What I didn’t like: The way Kentucky played the rest of the game. After converting a field goal on its opening drive, Kentucky allowed Tennessee to score 23 unanswered points and allowed the Vols to reach 50 points before the end of the third quarter. The Wildcats were outgained by 249 yards, completed 45 percent of their passes, ran for fewer than 100 yards per carry and committed five penalties while also losing the time of possession battle. The Vols outplayed UK in every way imaginable, and the final score reflects that. Following a promising opening drive, there wasn’t much Kentucky could say it “liked” about Saturday’s game.

Who’s the man: Place kicker Austin MaGinnis. The Kentucky freshman drilled all three of his field goal attempts against Tennessee, including a 32-yard kick to cap the opening drive of the game and a stupendous 54-yard kick as time expired in the first half. Having said all that, when a team’s place kicker is “the man” following a game and he didn’t make a game-winner, you know things could have gone better for that kicker’s team. The same holds true for MacGinnis and Kentucky following Saturday’s loss. Kentucky wideout Javess Blue had six receptions for 131 yards in a losing effort, which deserves a mention, but his strong showing could not prevent Kentucky from being routed. To be fair, he and MacGinnis and Blue can be considered co-players of the game.

Key play: Kentucky backup quarterback Reese Phillips was called upon for a long stretch of the first quarter while starter Patrick Towles was being treated for an ankle injury, and Tennessee was able to take advantage of the situation. On his second drive of the game, Phillips was intercepted by Tennessee’s Brian Randolph, who returned the interception 23 yards for a touchdown to push UT ahead 14-3 on the scoreboard. The pick-six opened the floodgates for the Vols, who would eventually run up a 33-13 halftime lead. Phillips was fooled by the coverage on his throw over the middle, and although Towles returned on UK’s next drive the damage had already been done.

What’s next: The Wildcats receive a much-needed week off next week before closing the regular season with the annual Governor’s Cup showdown against Louisville on Nov. 29. Kentucky and Louisville will square-off to end the season for the first time in the history of the rivalry, and for the Cats it represents their sixth and final chance to win their sixth game and earn bowl eligibility.