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Tennessee football: Ranking every win of 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays (68) points to fans while celebrating after an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 45-42.Tennvskentucky1106 2877
Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays (68) points to fans while celebrating after an SEC football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 45-42.Tennvskentucky1106 2877 /
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Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) intercepts a pass intended for Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (1) and runs the ball for a touchdown during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) intercepts a pass intended for Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (1) and runs the ball for a touchdown during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /

Kroger Field. 833. 839. Game: 9. 42. Lexington, Ky.. Saturday, Nov. 6. 45

Rank: 1

light. Related Story. Ranking Vols transfers by performance in 2021

While beating Missouri changed the outlook for Tennessee football season, beating the Kentucky Wildcats was the climax of that change. At the time, the Vols were back to .500 at 4-4. They lost to the Ole Miss Rebels and Alabama Crimson Tide after their Mizzou and South Carolina winds.

Coming into this game off a bye, they were facing a UK team that started 6-0 but had lost two straight. Still, they were No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings and AP Poll and No. 17 in the Coaches Poll. They also blew out the Vols in Knoxville the year before, which began Jeremy Pruitt’s downward slide, so they were expected to win this one at home.

Josh Heupel’s team, as usual, started fast, with Hendon Hooker throwing a 75-yard touchdown pass to JaVonta Payton on the first play. Kentucky hung tough and tied it up, but not before Hooker hit Velus Jones Jr. for a 72-yard score on the second drive. He almost hit Jalin Hyatt for a 70-plus yard score on the third drive, but Hyatt was ruled out.

Up 14-7, that’s when things began to change. After Hyatt failed to score, Hooker fumbled the ball. Kentucky drove down, tied it up, forced a punt and scored again to go up 21-14. Given how bad UT was in the second quarter, they were in trouble.

However, they didn’t quit, and Hooker hit Jacob Warren for a score before Chase McGrath hit a field goal as time expired to put the Vols up 24-21 at halftime. Kentucky scored to open the second half, but Jabari Small then had a 37-yard touchdown run. Alontae Taylor put the Vols in control 38-28 after that with a pick-six.

The defense still needed to make multiple stands, and Hooker needed a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman to seal the deal, but they pulled it out. Hooker had 367 total yards and four touchdowns. Small and Jaylen Wright combined for 105 yards on 11 carries. Jones had over 100 yards receiving, and Tillman and Payton had over 70. Byron Young had two sacks.

Next. Tracking Vols seniors and transfers for 2022. dark

Simply put, tons of players stepped up for Tennessee football in this one. It assured them finishing with a winning record as well given the last two games on their schedule. Kentucky winning out to finish 10-3 and in the top 20 even further cements this as the best win of this past year.

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