What beating UT in Knoxville would mean for Kentucky
First things first. It’s been since 1984 that Kentucky beat Tennessee in Knoxville. It was 17-12, a fact I remember because when was growing up on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, I heard a Knoxville radio host say, “Well, the last time Kentucky beat Tennessee it was 17-12.” And the co-host said, “Was that the score or the year?”
There have been times since 1984 that it seemed like it might have been 1712 when the ‘Cats took possession of the beer barrel (which hasn’t been a thing since 1998). For much of that period, Kentucky has stuck to the script of being led by the wrong guy or the right guy at the wrong time or being on NCAA probation. But of course, things have changed during the Mark Stoops era. Except not in Knoxville.
Yes, Stoops does own a win against UT — the 29-26 victory in Lexington in 2017 was the ‘Cats 2nd in 35 years — but the struggle for consistent success against the Vols continues to highlight Kentucky’s next step.
Following the SEC’s modern alignment in 1992, the SEC East dissolved into a clear football pecking order. The big dogs are Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Sure, sometimes there’s only been one truly big dog. Sure, sometimes each of those schools has fallen into the ranks of the also-rans. But the road to contending in the East runs through those 3 programs.
That was a problem for Kentucky for several reasons. Yes, the Wildcats haven’t been Georgia since 2009, but they’ve played competitive games with Georgia and pulled off the occasional upset over the years. Florida had its own 3-decade winning streak over the Wildcats, but Kentucky ended that one in 2018, and has certainly held serve with the Gators in recent years (only to lose in frequently heartbreaking fashion).
But Tennessee? The 2010s were not at all kind to the Vols. Missouri and South Carolina have been factors in the SEC title race more recently than the Vols. But UT is looking for its 18th consecutive win at home over Kentucky on Saturday anyway.
A significant part of Mark Stoops’ job at Kentucky was to create a new culture and erase a negative tradition. A team that literally went 25+ years without beating 2 of the 6 teams in its own division could not hope to claim any meaningful role in the SEC.
In many ways, winning in Knoxville is the final hurdle in Kentucky’s journey to SEC respectability. Stoops has done well against Missouri, South Carolina and Vandy. Georgia has been a problem. But Kentucky has narrowed the gap against Florida and Tennessee. The next task is to convert an evening playing field in talent into at least the occasional win.
The SEC-only COVID schedule only heightens the significance of the matchup with Tennessee. In many previous years, Kentucky would have reacted to the all-SEC schedule about the same way Vandy has. But, for once, matching up with SEC teams generally doesn’t feel like an impossibility (although, yes, Alabama and Georgia are still lurking in Kentucky’s schedule). But after a tough loss at Auburn and an astonishing stumble against Lane Kiffin’s pass-heavy Rebels air attack, Kentucky really doesn’t have any margin for error left in 2020.
At 1-2, even an optimist would struggle to see many potential wins aside from Vandy, Missouri (which suddenly looks much less certain) and South Carolina (and who knows what will be going on by December).
Beat Tennessee and Stoops can end another painful Kentucky streak and keep a very decent chance of a 5-5 season. Lose the game Saturday and a fair part of Big Blue Nation will start talking about basketball.
Writer misspelled Knoxvile.
Several other words as well. Clearly no proofreading.
“only to lose in frequently heartbreaking fashion (to Florida)”
Another example of how SEC officiating “errors” only ever seem to lean in one direction.
Kentucky isn’t going to beat Tennessee in Knoxville this year, so this entire article is moot.
appreciate the vote of confidence, pig.
Kentucky isn’t overmatched against vols. Kentucky certainly could win this game
Lol. We are not at all. Watch for this beat down.
Oh it was a beatdown alright lol
@Govols85… did you mention a beat down? Maybe like a 34 – 7 beat down.
Just like Arkansas isn’t going to beat Mississippi State after the thrashing they gave the defending national champions…
Wait…
We play the games cause no one knows what’s going to happen for sure.
This one should be a close game. If the Cats can get pressure on Guarantano, the Cats win. Tennessee’s offensive line looked
totally outclassed vs. Georgia and that was supposed to be a strength of the offense.
How you know? I did saay Missouri will beat Arkansas and will have more wins than Arkansas this year. Book it!
lol
@tx_hogfan, any other predictions about UK???
Guess again.
I think the rosters are fairly even from a talent standpoint. If anything, UK has the more experienced roster. But I think this game (like 90% of all football games) boils down to which team gets better QB play. I can’t say I’m too confident in Terry at this point, but at least Guarantano is on the other side, and he’s just as up-and-down.
It’s somewhat close. I don’t think Uk will win in either side of the trench not running the ball. It will cum down to our bum ass LB and their crappy over the middle passes they get smoked on
Well you were half right.
Kentucky can beat UT. Worthless prediction: UK 21 UT 17.
Can, yes. Will, who knows?
Lol, it just isn’t going to happen.
Just like wine, some comments age so exquisitely it’s almost hard to appreciate them.
@ Govols85… what’s not going to happen???
Kentucky can certainly whip Tennessee this year. Indiana kocked Tennessee out and then fell completely apart with 4 minutes left in the Gator Bowl. You bet Kentucky can pop Tennessee’s bubble….
…last year?
Lol e7. Based on what
Guarantano will keep the game close.
Guerantano is Tennessee’s best chance to lose the game…too inconsistent…and then there are the bone-head plays.
the game will be close up until halftime then i see the vols pulling away. 42-17
I’ll root like hell for em, but even when my blueneck was thinkin the Cats would win the East, I had this pegged as a loss. Been watching these two play for too long to think otherwise. Sure hope I’m wrong! Go Cats!!
I also had it as a loss, but for the second week in a row the defense lead the way to a win. I hope Stoops and Gran can get the offense going.
Bigger than any other game on the schedule!