SEC Network play-by-play announcer Tom Hart had a simple question for sideline reporter Cole Cubelic early in the fourth quarter of Tennessee football’s 56-34 win over Kentucky Saturday night.
Hart asked whether there was more orange or blue in the stadium at that point. Cubelic said that counting the empty seats, there was much more blue. But was there more people wearing orange or blue in the stadium? Cubelic said there was no doubt more fans repping the Vols than Wildcats.
Even Kentucky Sports Radio Wildcats football beat writer Nick Roush admitted that there were more Tennessee fans inside Kroger Field.
“It’s the second straight rivalry game at Kroger Field where the rival has had more fans in the stands for the fourth quarter of a blowout loss,” Roush posted on X.
While there was a good contingent of Tennessee fans that made the trip up Interstate-75 to watch the Vols face their border rival, the truth about fan turnout said much more about the lack of Kentucky fans remaining in the building. This picture from RTI’s own Ric Butler tells the story.
It’s officially basketball season in Lexington pic.twitter.com/Kz1gjHjH6P
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) October 26, 2025
More From RTI: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Heupel Said Following Blowout Win Over Kentucky
Saturday night’s result marked Kentucky’s fourth straight loss as the Wildcats fell to 2-5 (0-5 SEC) on the season ahead of next week’s matchup at Auburn. Kentucky took Texas to overtime a week ago but has now lost three of its last four games by three touchdowns.
The good news is that basketball season officially begins in eight days. Mark Pope’s second Kentucky team projects to be a good one and the Wildcats knocked off No. 1 Purdue 78-65 in an exhibition game Friday night at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky football has SEC games against Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt remaining on the schedule as well as non conference matchups with Tennessee Tech and Louisville. The Wildcats football program continues to stumble in the second decade of Mark Stoops’ tenure. Whether Kentucky makes any leadership changes after the season will be interesting to follow.
Tennessee football improves to 6-2 (3-2 SEC) following the win at Kentucky. The Vols remain in the College Football Playoff hunt, needing to win out to make it back to the 12-team playoffs. Tennessee faces Oklahoma next week before its second off date of the season. They then conclude the season with matchups against New Mexico State, Florida and Vanderbilt.
