After Tennessee loss, can Kentucky football save season by stopping bleeding?

Kentucky football's losing streak continues with a loss to Tennessee, putting pressure on the team's season.

Kentucky football's losing streak has extended to three games after a 33-27 loss to Tennessee on Saturday. This defeat puts the Wildcats at a 5-3 record for the season and 2-3 in SEC play, leaving them with a challenging final four games ahead.

While it may not come as a surprise that Kentucky was the underdog against Tennessee, this loss intensifies the pressure on the team as their season risks spiraling out of control. The upcoming game against Mississippi State appears to be a favorable opportunity for the Wildcats to halt their losing streak on paper. However, it is important to note that the Bulldogs have struggled throughout the season, with their only SEC victory being a 7-3 win against a winless Arkansas team. Despite this, Kentucky cannot rely on a guaranteed victory considering their current form and the fact that they have not won in Starkville since 2008.

If Kentucky fails to secure a win against Mississippi State, concerns of a repeat of the 2014 collapse, where the Wildcats lost their final six games after starting 5-1, will be hard to ignore. The upcoming games against Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisville also pose significant challenges for Kentucky. While South Carolina has a 1-5 SEC record, they managed to defeat Kentucky in Lexington last season and may be motivated to secure bowl eligibility.

The most likely scenario is that Kentucky will win at least one of the Mississippi State and South Carolina games. However, each loss adds to the mounting pressure on the team. It remains uncertain how a team predominantly composed of one-year transfers will respond if the losing streak continues.

The future of the Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry is uncertain as the SEC has yet to confirm the future schedule format following the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the league. Although the two teams are set to play next season, it is unlikely that they will continue to face each other every year if the SEC opts for an eight-game schedule in the long term. Even with a nine-game schedule, there is no guarantee that Kentucky and Tennessee will be paired as permanent opponents.

Since 1919, Kentucky and Tennessee have played each other every season, except for 1943 due to World War II. In an eight-game format where each team has one fixed opponent, Tennessee is likely to be paired with Vanderbilt, while Kentucky may be paired with South Carolina. Regardless of the future schedule, it is evident that Kentucky and Tennessee will no longer be division rivals. Tennessee has dominated the rivalry, boasting a 29-3 record against Kentucky since the SEC split into two divisions in 1992. Although Kentucky has managed to secure three wins since 2011, they have been unable to capitalize on Tennessee's struggles for the majority of the past decade.

The final game between the two rivals during the SEC East era concludes similarly to previous encounters, with a Tennessee victory. Vols coach Josh Heupel remains undefeated against Kentucky, solidifying Tennessee's position above Kentucky in the SEC pecking order.

In addition to the loss, Kentucky football's fourth-down decisions proved to be detrimental. Final statistics from the game highlight the areas where Kentucky fell short in their efforts against No. 21 Tennessee.