University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Things To Know: The Win Over Kentucky
October 30, 2022 | Football
No. 3 Tennessee was back in action inside Neyland Stadium for the third straight week Saturday night, facing off against No. 19 Kentucky in front of another sold-out home crowd and on a national audience in prime-time on ESPN.
For just the third time in the 118 total meetings between the two programs, UT and UK met as ranked opponents. With Tennessee's 44-6 victory Saturday night, the Vols have come out on top in all three ranked meetings.
Here are five things to know from Saturday's win:
Tennessee maintained its efficiency on the ground as well, scoring three total rushing touchdowns from Jaylen Wright, Princeton Fant and Hooker. Saturday marked the third game in a row that Fant, a tight end, has scored a rushing touchdown. Jabari Small led Tennessee in rushing with 78 yards, also hauling in a 13-yard receiving touchdown for the final score of the game.
Tennessee entered Saturday leading the nation in both total offense and scoring offense with an average of 50.1 points per game, but scored just seven points in the first quarter. However, Tennessee's notoriously quick offense began to take shape as the second quarter began, scoring three touchdowns in the next 15 minutes of gameplay. By the end of the night, the Vols had achieved their highest margin of victory against a ranked SEC team since 1990.
The Vols' 44-point game marks the 11th straight time that UT has scored 30 or more points dating back to last season. The streak currently stands as the longest in school history and the longest active streak in the SEC.
Before Saturday's matchup, the Wildcats had held opponents to 24 or fewer points in 11 straight games. The Vols had reached 27 points before the end of the first half.
Six points for the opponent was the fewest total Tennessee has conceded against a Power 5 opponent since Jan. 1, 2016 against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. It also marked the lowest total for an SEC opponent since holding Mississippi State to three points on Oct. 18, 2008 in a 34-3 victory inside Neyland Stadium.
The Wildcats headed into week nine leading the SEC in most sacks allowed per game with 26 in total, and they left Neyland Stadium having allowed an additional four. Juwan Mitchell, Brandon Turnage and Doneiko Slaughter each achieved their first career interceptions. Along with his first career interception, Mitchell also led Tennessee in tackles with eight total, including two solo. Tennessee recorded a season-high three interceptions–its most in an SEC game since 2019.
Kentucky quarterback, and potential first-round pick, Will Levis was held to just 98 yards passing, the first time the Vols had held an opposing quarterback to fewer than 100 yards since Nov. 9, 2019. It also marked the lowest passing total allowed in the Josh Heupel era.
Additionally, the Vols' quarterback moved to seventh place in UT record books for total yards with 6,237 in 21 games.
With Hooker's 55-yard throw to Hyatt for Tennessee's first score of the night, the redshirt senior extended his program record to 20 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
The quarterback's offensive efficiency extended to the ground as well, as he ran to the checkerboards for an eight-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. It marked the eighth time in Hooker's Tennessee career that he has both rushed for a touchdown and passed for a touchdown in the same game.
The Volunteer signal caller also surpassed 10,000 yards of total offense for his collegiate career, holding 10,164 total. His Tennessee figures are complemented by 3,927 yards of offense he put up while at Virginia Tech.
With his return, the Vols boast a deep, talented wide receiver room with a myriad of strengths and ways to get open. Jalin Hyatt is setting records in the slot through just eight games of action. Bru McCoy, the talented, physical transfer from USC, has been a force on the outside and has caught 30 passes for 451 yards this season. Ramel Keyton stepped up big in Tillman's absence, making acrobatic catches seemingly every time the ball came his direction.
In total, eight pass-catchers have found the end zone this season and five receivers, who have reeled in 10 or more catches, are averaging over 12.5 yards per reception. Coupled with stellar play in the pocket by Hooker, the Volunteers bring out a variety of weapons and are reloaded and recharged with the return of number 4.
The home supporters at Neyland Stadium have been witness to three such games this season and the energy around Knoxville has been palpable, with Saturday evening's game marking the fifth consecutive sell-out at home. That streak stands as the longest sell-out stretch since 2007.
The Volunteers are also off to an 8-0 season for the first time since 1998, when Tennessee finished the year undefeated and won a national championship.
Getting in the spirit of Halloween, for the first time ever, the Vols ran through the T donning black helmets to go with their alternate "Dark Mode" uniforms, which made their debut a season ago. A pregame of epic proportions featured a special lights show, a version of Rocky Top that made rounds on social media throughout the week blared through the speakers as flashlights from 101,915 phones lit the riverside cathedral of football.
Later, as the Pride of the Southland Band performed the Star Spangled Banner, two hometown heroes, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Hassell and 2004 graduate of UT Lieutenant Colonel Brad Matherne piloted their F-35 Lightnings over the field as the final note hit, enlivening the crowd for an exciting night of football.
Headed into week 10, the Big Orange will face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) in Athens, Georgia. Both teams will go into Sanford Stadium undefeated and all eyes will once again be pointing towards Tennessee football. ESPN College GameDay has selected the game to be featured in the morning show, the third time this season the Vols will be highlighted on the broadcast. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
For just the third time in the 118 total meetings between the two programs, UT and UK met as ranked opponents. With Tennessee's 44-6 victory Saturday night, the Vols have come out on top in all three ranked meetings.
Here are five things to know from Saturday's win:
1. The Nation's No. 1 Offense
Just 87 seconds into Saturday's contest, Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt connected for a 55-yard touchdown to continue their offensive tear. In what was his first reception of the night, Hyatt tied the school record for single-season receiving touchdowns and later claimed sole possession of the record with a 31-yard second-quarter touchdown. The junior wide receiver improved his career total to 18 receiving touchdowns to move into fifth place in program history.Tennessee maintained its efficiency on the ground as well, scoring three total rushing touchdowns from Jaylen Wright, Princeton Fant and Hooker. Saturday marked the third game in a row that Fant, a tight end, has scored a rushing touchdown. Jabari Small led Tennessee in rushing with 78 yards, also hauling in a 13-yard receiving touchdown for the final score of the game.
Tennessee entered Saturday leading the nation in both total offense and scoring offense with an average of 50.1 points per game, but scored just seven points in the first quarter. However, Tennessee's notoriously quick offense began to take shape as the second quarter began, scoring three touchdowns in the next 15 minutes of gameplay. By the end of the night, the Vols had achieved their highest margin of victory against a ranked SEC team since 1990.
The Vols' 44-point game marks the 11th straight time that UT has scored 30 or more points dating back to last season. The streak currently stands as the longest in school history and the longest active streak in the SEC.
Before Saturday's matchup, the Wildcats had held opponents to 24 or fewer points in 11 straight games. The Vols had reached 27 points before the end of the first half.
2. Give Them (Just) Six
The Vols' defense started strong and didn't let up until the game was over. Kentucky went three-and-out on its first possession, which set the tone for the remainder of the night as the Vols ultimately held the Wildcats to a total of 205 yards. The Cats scored just six total points after Christopher Rodriguez ran into the endzone for six. Matt Ruffolo's PAT was blocked by Tennessee's Da'Jon Terry and recovered by Jeremy Banks, and that was the end of scoring for Kentucky.Six points for the opponent was the fewest total Tennessee has conceded against a Power 5 opponent since Jan. 1, 2016 against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. It also marked the lowest total for an SEC opponent since holding Mississippi State to three points on Oct. 18, 2008 in a 34-3 victory inside Neyland Stadium.
THE HIT! THE PICK!
— ESPN (@espn) October 30, 2022
Tennessee is feelin' it 😤 pic.twitter.com/WyGtAf9QP9
The Wildcats headed into week nine leading the SEC in most sacks allowed per game with 26 in total, and they left Neyland Stadium having allowed an additional four. Juwan Mitchell, Brandon Turnage and Doneiko Slaughter each achieved their first career interceptions. Along with his first career interception, Mitchell also led Tennessee in tackles with eight total, including two solo. Tennessee recorded a season-high three interceptions–its most in an SEC game since 2019.
Coverage: A+ 📚 pic.twitter.com/eskj8ElN2k
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 30, 2022
Kentucky quarterback, and potential first-round pick, Will Levis was held to just 98 yards passing, the first time the Vols had held an opposing quarterback to fewer than 100 yards since Nov. 9, 2019. It also marked the lowest passing total allowed in the Josh Heupel era.
3. Himdon Hooker
Hendon Hooker recorded another very strong performance against the Kentucky Wildcats. In 2021, Hooker threw a then-career-high four touchdown passes in the 45-42 win. In this year's meeting, Hooker went on to complete 19-of-25 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns.Additionally, the Vols' quarterback moved to seventh place in UT record books for total yards with 6,237 in 21 games.
With Hooker's 55-yard throw to Hyatt for Tennessee's first score of the night, the redshirt senior extended his program record to 20 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
Hendon Hooker to Jalin Hyatt may just be the top connection in CFB right now🔥
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 29, 2022
pic.twitter.com/1Ec8p5XUdR
The quarterback's offensive efficiency extended to the ground as well, as he ran to the checkerboards for an eight-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. It marked the eighth time in Hooker's Tennessee career that he has both rushed for a touchdown and passed for a touchdown in the same game.
The Volunteer signal caller also surpassed 10,000 yards of total offense for his collegiate career, holding 10,164 total. His Tennessee figures are complemented by 3,927 yards of offense he put up while at Virginia Tech.
4. Can't Cover 'Em All
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman was the Vols' biggest receiving threat in the 2021 season. Leading the Big Orange in scoring with 12 touchdowns, the redshirt senior also led the Vols in receiving with a total of 62 receptions for 1,081 yards. He made his much-anticipated return from injury against UK, making four catches in the game.With his return, the Vols boast a deep, talented wide receiver room with a myriad of strengths and ways to get open. Jalin Hyatt is setting records in the slot through just eight games of action. Bru McCoy, the talented, physical transfer from USC, has been a force on the outside and has caught 30 passes for 451 yards this season. Ramel Keyton stepped up big in Tillman's absence, making acrobatic catches seemingly every time the ball came his direction.
Jalin Hyatt in his last six quarters:
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 22, 2022
13 REC
383 YDS
7 TDS
CHEAT CODE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DWvmhB1SQK
In total, eight pass-catchers have found the end zone this season and five receivers, who have reeled in 10 or more catches, are averaging over 12.5 yards per reception. Coupled with stellar play in the pocket by Hooker, the Volunteers bring out a variety of weapons and are reloaded and recharged with the return of number 4.
5. Rockin' on Rocky Top
Tennessee earned its fifth ranked victory of the season on Saturday night. It entered the day tied with TCU for the national lead and finished the evening in sole possession of the distinction. The Vols have now captured six ranked wins in the Heupel era, with two of them coming against Kentucky.The home supporters at Neyland Stadium have been witness to three such games this season and the energy around Knoxville has been palpable, with Saturday evening's game marking the fifth consecutive sell-out at home. That streak stands as the longest sell-out stretch since 2007.
The Volunteers are also off to an 8-0 season for the first time since 1998, when Tennessee finished the year undefeated and won a national championship.
Getting in the spirit of Halloween, for the first time ever, the Vols ran through the T donning black helmets to go with their alternate "Dark Mode" uniforms, which made their debut a season ago. A pregame of epic proportions featured a special lights show, a version of Rocky Top that made rounds on social media throughout the week blared through the speakers as flashlights from 101,915 phones lit the riverside cathedral of football.
Neyland at night is something else 🔥🔥🔥 #SpookyRockyTop #GBO 🍊🍊🍊 pic.twitter.com/8yzJmwnEZC
— 𝙹𝙰𝙾 (@draft_alex) October 30, 2022
Later, as the Pride of the Southland Band performed the Star Spangled Banner, two hometown heroes, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Hassell and 2004 graduate of UT Lieutenant Colonel Brad Matherne piloted their F-35 Lightnings over the field as the final note hit, enlivening the crowd for an exciting night of football.
The goosebumps. Neyland at night never gets old. #Vols pic.twitter.com/13WrPwLrwv
— Reece Van Haaften (@Reece_VH) October 29, 2022
Headed into week 10, the Big Orange will face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) in Athens, Georgia. Both teams will go into Sanford Stadium undefeated and all eyes will once again be pointing towards Tennessee football. ESPN College GameDay has selected the game to be featured in the morning show, the third time this season the Vols will be highlighted on the broadcast. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
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