LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 09: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Relive some moments of Tennessee football’s trip to Lexington, which the Volunteers won 17-13 over the Kentucky Wildcats.
Talk about a huge victory for Tennessee football. The Vols have gotten back to .500 in November with a 5-5 record, 3-3 in the SEC thanks to a huge close win over the Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats on the road.
It was a long uphill climb after losing their first two games at home to Group of Five programs and starting the year 1-4 with no wins over FBS programs. This team was dead in the water, and there appeared to be no shot for them to reach a bowl game or even get to five wins.
Well, one of those things has happened, and the other one is now a strong possibility with their final two games being at the Missouri Tigers and at home against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Given the fact that they have a bye week coming after this win, the Vols have a great chance to win both, and eight wins could be on the table.
But before getting ahead of themselves, they should just focus on a bowl. And before doing that, they can relive this victory. So let’s look back. Here is a photo gallery from Tennessee football’s close win over Kentucky.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: The line of scrimmage of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Lynn Bowden Jr #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: The Kentucky Wildcats performs in the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Jeremy Pruitt the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Lynn Bowden Jr #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Lynn Bowden Jr #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Kavosiey Smoke #20 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Kavosiey Smoke #20 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: A.J. Rose #10 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers intercepts a pass against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Josh Palmer #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Jeremy Pruitt the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: The Kentucky Wildcats performs in the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 09: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
What Tennessee football does with this victory will be key. Again, Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols have a bye to get ready for their final two games. They only need one for a bowl game, but two could help this program get close to heights it hasn’t reached in a while.
Sure, Pruitt cashed in on an easy schedule, but his team has clearly improved in recent years. As a result, there is a lot to celebrate with the Vols, and they took another major step with this victory on Saturday night.
Against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, it was beating a Power Five team. They followed that up with finally getting over the Will Muschamp hump in their win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. And they then beat a team that currently has a winning record in the UAB Blazers. Beating the Kentucky Wildcats was their first road win.
Simply put, this team has overcome hurdle after hurdle in recent weeks. And now Tennessee football has a real chance to do things that seemed completely impossible early in the season. So they should get excited over it for a day or two.
