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Tennessee football at Kentucky: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Wildcats

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee defensive backs Jaylen McCollough (22) Trevon Flowers (1), and and Theo Jackson (26) celebrate Flwoers fumble recovery during the NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 16, 2021.Utvom1016
Tennessee defensive backs Jaylen McCollough (22) Trevon Flowers (1), and and Theo Jackson (26) celebrate Flwoers fumble recovery during the NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 16, 2021.Utvom1016 /

5. Does anybody get a red zone stop?

You can tie third down play into this one. After all, red zone stops in this context don’t have anything to do with keeping teams from scoring the ball. We’re looking at who can hold their opponents to field goals vs. touchdowns. On that front, both red zone defenses are horrible.

Tennessee football is No. 12 in the SEC and No. 124 overall at preventing red zone touchdowns, allowing teams to reach the end zone 76.67 percent of the time they get down there. Kentucky, though, is still down at No. 10 in the SEC and 101 nationally, allowing teams to score touchdowns 68 percent of the time they get down there.

By contrast, Kentucky’s red zone offense is No. 2 in the SEC and No. 7 in the nation at scoring touchdowns, reaching the end zone 75 percent of the time they get down there. The Vols are still solid on that front at No. 5 in the SEC and No. 27 in the nation, reaching the end zone 69.7 percent of the time they get into the red zone.

Just like third downs, Kentucky has the slight edge, but both teams are positioned to score touchdowns once they reach the red zone. As a result, the first team to hold its opponent to a field goal could have a huge edge down the road.

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