Tennessee football will be back on the road to square off with Kentucky tomorrow night. The Vols and Wildcats will meet at Kroger Field at 7:45 p.m. ET with the game airing on the SEC Network.
Before kick-off, I dove into the numbers, with the help of UT’s game notes, to get a better look at what to expect in the game.
Here are three numbers to keep in mind as you’re watching the matchup.
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7.84
DeSean Bishop has fully emerged as one of the most dependable running backs in the SEC. The number that backs this up the most is his yards per carry. On average, when Bishop touches the ball, he’s racking up 7.84 yards.
This mark tops the SEC and the FBS among players who are averaging at least 10 attempts per game. Across all of FBS football, it comes in at third.
In the Josh Heupel era, Tennessee has produced 200+ rushing yards in a single game 34 times. When doing so, the Vols hold a record of 32-2, including 26-straight wins.
85
Tennessee has beaten Kentucky football on the field (including vacated wins) 85 times. That’s the fifth-most in a single series across all of FBS. The only teams UT trails are Nebraska over Kansas, Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Nebraska over Iowa State and Alabama over Mississippi State.
The Vols have lost in the series just 26 times. From 1985-2020, Tennessee didn’t drop a single game, going 26-straight matches with a win. The teams have also tied nine times.
On the road, the Vols still hold a 40-15-3 on the field. This includes three straight wins in Lexington and a 2-0 start under Heupel.
10.9
Tennessee is known as one of the fastest-starting teams in the country under Heupel. Against a team like Kentucky, an early lead could make a huge difference. Since Heupel took over in 2021, the Vols lead the country in first quarter points per game at 10.9. Second place is SMU at just 9.27.
Since Heupel took over, Tennessee is outscoring opponents in the first quarter 643-233. In his tenure as a head coach, including Central Florida, it’s up to 1,090-468.
This season, the Vols have already produced 100 points in first quarters. UT is outscoring opponents in the opening frame 100-31 so far.
