Tough Night In Knoxville
Twice in the last four years, Tennessee knocked Kentucky out of a possible major bowl game. On Saturday night under the lights in Knoxville the Wildcats had their turn to dent UT’s playoff hopes. Unfortunately for the Big Blue Nation, they couldn’t spring the upset. It wasn’t pretty but it’s our job to break it down as Tennessee blasts Kentucky 44-6.
Exactly What Couldn’t Happen
If you read our game preview we said two things couldn’t happen. First, prevent Tennessee from getting off to a hot start, and second no turnovers leading to easy points. For a while things looked good for the Cats.
The Vols took the opening kick and took a whopping 1:27 to score. The last 55 came on a pass from Hendon Hooker to Jalin Hyatt. The Cats put together a good looking drive going 71 yards in nine plays. Chris Rodriguez took it the last three to get on the board. However, a season-long issue reared its ugly head as Matt Ruffolo missed the extra point leaving the score 7-6.
UT scored on their next two possessions to go up 20-6 and the wheels started to come off for Mark Stoops’ club. Will Levis was picked off deep in Tennessee territory preventing a score. On UK’s next possession an 18-yard put from Colin Goodfellow set the Vols up at the Wildcat 35. Two plays and 15 seconds later Hooker hit Wyatt again and it was 27-6 at the half.
Second Half Was No Better
With a chance to get some momentum UK was sacked on consecutive plays leading to a Tennessee field goal. That’s when it went from bad to worse as Levis was picked off on back-to-back possessions. Hooker took it the last eight and it was 37-6. Deep in their own territory, UK went three and out and a breakdown on punt coverage gave UT great field position at the Kentucky 13. One play later a pass from Hooker to Jabari Small made it 44-6.
Kentucky got the ball one final time and held it for over seven minutes getting it to the Volunteer 36. On a fourth and nine Kentucky got seven yards. That seemed a very fitting end of the game as Tennessee blasts Kentucky 44-6.
Looking Ahead
With the loss, Kentucky drops to 5-3 on the season and 2-3 in the SEC. Up next they travel to Missouri who are 4-4 on the year after beating South Carolina on the road. The same Gamecock team that beat Kentucky in Lexington. The Wildcats have won six of the last seven in the series.
On the other side of the ball, the Volunteers are now 8-0 and 4-0 in the SEC. Josh Heupel’s club is firmly entrenched as a playoff team. Up next is likely the biggest game of the year in the conference as they travel to Georgia for a battle with the top-ranked Bulldogs. Stetson Bennett and the Dawgs are coming off a 42-20 win over Florida. Tennessee has lost five in a row to Georgia.
Final Thoughts
For whatever reason Kentucky continues to struggle after the bye week. In 10 years in Lexington Stoops is 5-5 with three of those wins coming over Vanderbilt. If we’re being honest many times they don’t seem ready to play.
A season ago UK gained 612 yards and Levis threw for 376 and three scores, and they still lost. Fast forward one year and the Wildcats struggled against a defense that ranked next to last in passing yards and 103rd in total defense. Kentucky couldn’t capitalize on either. A lot of the blame is going on offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.
Tennessee came in ranked 103rd in yards per game allowed (420.6) and 130th out of 131 FBS teams in passing yards allowed (329.7). Kentucky got six points, 205 total yards, 98 passing yards and three interceptions. That's a very, very bad night for first-year OC Rich Scangarello.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 30, 2022
It certainly was a night to forget for Levis throwing for only 98 yards and three interceptions. The Cats need a win next week against Missouri or this once promising season is heading downhill quickly.
As for the Vols don’t be surprised if they aren’t ranked number one with the first selection committee rankings coming out on Tuesday. Hooker was very efficient throwing for 245 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, he ran for 23 yards and one more score. They look like a team who can win it all. Considering where these two schools were as recently as last year where the Cats looked like the number two team in the SEC East that’s a bitter pill indeed.
Again Tennessee blasts Kentucky 44-6 on a no good, very bad night for the Wildcat football team. Thanks for checking out our recap here at Last Word On College Football. We’ll be back soon with updated bowl projections and get you ready for Missouri.
