Kentucky Football just hit its highest-ever CFP ranking, clocking in at an incredible No. 6 thanks to the magic Will Stein’s brought in his first year. That’s a massive deal for Lexington, and it shows the good work Mark Stoops did for 13 years before him. But let’s be honest, folks, for all the hype around that No. 6 spot, the ghost of “Old Kentucky Football” is still lurking. And until they beat a *good* Tennessee team, it ain’t going anywhere.
The “Wins” That Weren’t Really Wins
It’s tough to talk about Kentucky vs. Tennessee without bringing up that brutal 26-game winning streak the Vols had. That finally ended in 2011, a big moment for the Wildcats. And yeah, since then, Kentucky has technically beaten Tennessee two other times, in 2017 and 2020. But let’s pump the brakes on calling those “statement wins.” The 2020 victory was against an 18th-ranked Tennessee squad, sure, but that team ended up a total disaster, finishing 3-7 and getting their whole season vacated because of recruiting violations. Yikes. The 2017 win? Those Vols finished 4-8, and their coach got fired just two weeks after losing to Kentucky. Even the 2011 win, a 10-7 nail-biter, was against a 5-6 Tennessee team that ultimately finished 5-7. So, if you’re looking for Kentucky to beat a truly *good* Tennessee team, you gotta dig deep.
You Gotta Go WAY Back to Find a Quality Win
How far back, you ask? To find the last time Kentucky took down a Tennessee team that finished with a winning record, you’ve got to rewind all the way to 1984. That’s when a 9-3 Wildcats squad marched into Knoxville and beat a Vols team that finished 7-4-1. And get this: that Kentucky team featured defensive end Matt Stein, who happens to be the father of current head coach Will Stein. That means the guy leading this No. 6 Kentucky team wasn’t even alive the last time his school beat a good Volunteers squad. If you want to talk about beating a Tennessee team that actually finished in the AP Poll or CFP rankings, then we’re talking about ancient history. We’re talking about 1957, when a 2-7 Kentucky team pulled off a shocker against a 6-2 Tennessee team that eventually finished 8-3 and No. 13 in the final AP Poll, after being ranked as high as No. 5.
This week, No. 6 Kentucky faces a No. 13 Tennessee team. This is their chance, folks. This isn’t just another game. This is the moment to finally put the “Old Kentucky Football” narrative to bed. The Vols have a tough schedule left, with games at Texas A&M, against No. 14 LSU, and at Vanderbilt. Even if they lose to Kentucky and LSU, but beat the other two, an 8-4 Tennessee team still has a real shot at finishing in the top 25. That means if Kentucky wins, it’s a legitimate, no-asterisks win over a *good* Tennessee team. Will Stein’s Wildcats need to bring it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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