Kentucky faces Tennessee with CFP stakes
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop presents the central matchup challenge for a Kentucky defense that has played well against traditional rushing attacks.
| Kickoff | 6:15 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Venue | Neyland Stadium |
| Spread | Tennessee -6.5 |
| Total | 49.5 |
| TV | ESPN |
|---|---|
| Streaming | the ESPN app |
Kentucky at Tennessee airs on ESPN. Each school's radio network carries the game, and the live score and every scoring play post here as it happens.
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Follow the full play-by-play and box score →No. 6 Kentucky visits No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday night in Knoxville, where the Wildcats can damage the Volunteers’ College Football Playoff position while moving closer to the postseason. Kentucky enters the matchup having won seven of Will Stein’s first eight games as an SEC head coach.
The clearest matchup question is whether Kentucky can slow Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop. He averages nearly 120 rushing yards on 21.4 carries per game, ranks in the top 10 nationally in almost every rushing category and has scored 35% of Tennessee’s touchdowns this season.
Tennessee is 1-4 against SEC opponents when Bishop fails to average 4+ yards per carry. On3 Kentucky describes the Wildcats as stout against traditional rushing attacks and says their ability to contain Bishop will likely determine the outcome.
Both teams had a bye before the game. On3 Kentucky reports that Bishop is available after suffering an injury late in Tennessee’s loss to South Carolina, while Kentucky contributors Nic Anderson, CJ Baxter and Malachi Wood are ready to play. Sam Greene is trending toward a return, which could help Kentucky’s run defense on the edge.
Mark Stoops’ teams went 6-11 overall and 5-10 against SEC opponents following a bye, including a 4-13 record against the spread. Tennessee enters on an 0-4 run against the spread after bye weeks.
Tennessee is a 6.5-point favorite, with the total at 49.5, according to the Polymarket App. Kentucky is 7-1 against the spread this season and 3-0 as a road underdog, winning all three of those games outright. For the Volunteers, the against-the-spread records are 4-4 overall and 2-1 as a power-conference favorite.
Stein has publicly leaned into the challenge, saying Tennessee also must prepare for Kentucky as the best competition on its schedule.
Why it matters
Kentucky can move closer to the postseason and deal a major blow to Tennessee’s CFP position. The result may depend on containing Bishop, Tennessee is 1-4 against SEC opponents when he fails to average 4+ yards per carry.
What to watch next
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. Kentucky’s run defense against Bishop will be the primary matchup to track.
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