COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18

ASSOCIATED PRESS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Dylan Sampson rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 7 Tennessee to a 28-18 victory over Kentucky Saturday night.

Tight end Miles Kitselman caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown for the Volunteers (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) as they kept their College Football playoff hopes alive.

The Wildcats (3-5, 1-6) lost their fourth straight game after five starters were out with injuries. During the game, receiver Barion Brown and quarterback Brock Vandagriff were also hurt.

After trailing 10-7 at halftime, Kitselman and Sampson scored in the third quarter to put Tennessee up 21-10. Gavin Wimsatt replaced Vandagriff, who left after a hard hit by James Pearce, and threw an interception on his first series. On his second series, Wimsatt hit Ja’Mori Maclin for a 32-yard TD to cut the score to 21-18.

Sampson stretched the advantage to 28-18 as he was carried by a scrum for a 6-yard score.

Jamarion Wilcox rushed for 102 yards, including a 50-yarder on the game’s first snap.

Tennessee scored in the first half for the first time in four games when Peyton Lewis scored from three yards out. The Vols missed two field goals, dropped a pass in the end zone and fumbled on the Wildcat 22.

THE TAKEAWAY

Kentucky: If the Wildcats intend on playing in a bowl game this season, they must win the three remaining games on their schedule. They have now lost four straight games and will need to make health a priority.

Tennessee: Vols coach Josh Heupel keeps reminding his players to “stay in the moment” and not look ahead to a showdown with Georgia on Nov. 16. For it to be a pivotal game, Tennessee has to take care of business next week against Mississippi State. There is no margin of error when a berth in the College Football Playoff is concerned.

Tennessee athletics press release

November 2, 2024