Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 45-42 win at Kentucky

4. Defense couldn’t get stops…until it mattered.

One huge reason Kentucky dominated the time of possession battle was the fact that Tennessee football couldn’t get off the field. The Vols allowed UK to convert 12 of 17 third down attempts. Late in the game, with a chance to seal the deal, they allowed a 4th and 24 conversion. To be fair, that conversion nullified an excuse UK would’ve had with a missed face mask call.

Still, they means 13 of 17 times, the Vols allowed Kentucky to stay on the field when they could’ve gotten off. The defense couldn’t buy stops all night, and Kentucky didn’t punt. That proved to be a huge problem throughout the game.

However, the defense was clutch when it mattered most. Twice in the fourth quarter, the Vols came away with fourth down stops. Both times were when Kentucky had the ball down by only three, and one was on the very next sequence after that late 4th and 24 conversion. Byron Young had two key sacks to help snuff these drives out.

Simply put, whenever the Vols needed it, they got a stop to stay in control. This is the first close game they have won all year for a reason, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that their defense, despite struggling all night, was able to come through when it mattered.