Tennessee set for primetime kickoff at Kentucky

Finally, Tennessee gets their open date this week with a chance to heal up for the final four games of the season. However, everyone’s attention has already shifted to Kentucky. The Vols will hit the road next week and travel to Lexington to face the 12th ranked Wildcats.

That game will be a primetime kickoff, set to begin at 7 p.m. ET time on ESPN2. The SEC announced the full slate schedule today.

Kentucky is 6-1 and looking to finish off an impressive season. Their lone loss came at the hands of Georgia a couple of weeks back, 30-13. The Wildcats beat Florida for their most impressive win of the season, but only squeaked by South Carolina, Missouri and Chattanooga. They have an interesting trip to Mississippi State coming up this weekend, a game that Vegas sees as nearly a pick ‘em.

Tennessee is looking to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Kentucky last season. Multiple turnovers doomed the Volunteers last season at home, as Kentucky won in Knoxville for the first time since 1984.

Kentucky has won two of the last four after going winless in the series from 1985-2010.

It’s a chance for Josh Heupel to make a statement. Kentucky has become the more stable program over the last several seasons, moving up a couple of pegs in the SEC East pecking order. Heupel’s year one Vols have already disposed of Missouri and South Carolina, and doing the same to a 12th ranked Kentucky team on the road would be a pretty big moment.

With two weeks to prepare and heal, things do set up nicely for Tennessee in this spot. It’s eerily similar to the situation back in 2018, where the Vols knocked off the 11th ranked Wildcats 24-7. Can they go on the road this time and do it again?