It was a blackout night at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night, November 2, 2024, as the Vols took on the Kentucky Wildcats. Like many old western movies, one team wore all black and the other team wore all white. Unlike the old westerns, the Good Guys were wearing black hats in this game. 2024 marked the 120th time that Tennessee and Kentucky have played each other in football. The Volunteers managed to add another hard-fought win last Saturday to bring the all-time series record to 85-26-9 in favor of the Vols.
Despite entering the game with a losing record, the Wildcats were not hesitant to engage in the fight. Kentucky took a first quarter lead, scoring the game’s first touchdown, and kept Tennessee’s offense off balance and off the scoreboard. Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert missed field goal attempts from 52 and 46 yards and the Vol offense sputtered through most of the first half. If Tennessee wasn’t missing kicks, they were fumbling the ball and stopping their drives. Tennessee managed to tie the score at 7-7 in the second quarter but gave up the halftime lead as Kentucky managed to convert a 32-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the first half.
Whatever Coach Heupel and his coaching staff had to say at halftime seemed to light a fire under the Big Orange as they scored two third-quarter touchdowns to take a strong 21-10 lead at the end of the third quarter. Kentucky was not backing down and scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard pass from backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to Ja’Mori Macklin. The Cats’ two-point conversion was successful, so the Vols lead was reduced to three points, 21-18, with almost the entire fourth quarter to play. To their credit, the Tennessee offensive line began to dominate the line of scrimmage and at 4:55 left in the game, Dylan Sampson scored his second rushing touchdown of the game and set a new school record 19th rushing touchdown of the year, to extend the Vols lead to 28-18. Tennessee’s defense held the lead producing the final score of 28-18 Tennessee over Kentucky.
Though many people expected Tennessee to roll over Kentucky, it is easy to forget that #2 ranked Georgia had to come from behind to beat the Wildcats by two points earlier this season. Kentucky is a tough team, well-coached and determined. The Tennessee vs. Kentucky game is usually a knock-down, drag-out affair regardless of the records coming into the game or which stadium the game is played in. Tennessee’s win was convincing, but not dominant.
Kudos to Dylan Sampson and the Tennessee offensive line for setting a new school record for the number of rushing touchdowns in a single season with four games left to play. Before Saturday’s game, the Tennessee record was held by its first All-American, Gene McEver, who established the mark at 18 rushing touchdowns in 1929. Sampson, the SEC’s leading rusher this season, carried the ball 27 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats. For the game, Tennessee rushed for 185 yards and passed for 292, totaling 477 yards against Kentucky. The Wildcats totaled 360 yards against the Tennessee defense. Both teams lost a fumble, but the Volunteers intercepted the Wildcats twice without throwing an interception themselves.
The #7 ranked Vols will take their 7-1 record into next Saturday’s game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. The Bulldogs are having a difficult year under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby but are sure to give Tennessee a battle. Hopefully, the Tennessee offense will eliminate its slow starts in reaching the end zone during the first half and begin refining its attack as it enters the final quarter of the regular season. This Tennessee team can still achieve championship status, but more consistent execution by the offense and kicking game will be needed as the competition stiffens.