Kentucky
Tennessee football vs Kentucky gets game time, TV designation for Week 10 SEC matchup
Tennessee football’s game against Kentucky received a kickoff time and TV designation.
The No. 12 Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) host the Wildcats (3-5, 1-5) at 7:45 p.m. ET Saturday on SEC Network. The time and TV choice were announced following Week 9 SEC games, which included Kentucky’s 24-10 loss to Auburn at Kroger Field.
The game will be Tennessee’s sixth night game and the third night game at Neyland Stadium. UT beat Kent State and Florida at home. It won at Oklahoma, lost at Arkansas and beat NC State in Charlotte.
The Vols enter Saturday on a two-game winning streak after beating the Gators 23-17 and Alabama 24-17. They are coming off an open week before facing Kentucky.
The Wildcats are having a lousy season under coach Mark Stoops. Their lone SEC win was a 20-17 upset at Ole Miss on Sept. 27. They have lost to South Carolina, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida and Auburn. UK won nonconference games against Southern Miss and Ohio.
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Tennessee leads the all-time series 84-26-9. It is 3-0 against UK under coach Josh Heupel, including a 44-6 win in Knoxville in 2022.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
Kentucky
Andre Woodson, Mike Hartline help Cutter Boley break through at Kentucky
It hasn’t been pretty for the Kentucky Wildcats on the football field this season, but one obvious bright spot comes in the form of a 6’5″ redshirt freshman quarterback out of Hodgenville in Cutter Boley. He entered the game late vs. Ole Miss and has started every outing since with one win and four losses, but steady growth leading to a breakthrough against Tennessee this past weekend.
Boley racked up 330 yards and five touchdowns on 26-35 passing with 31 rushing yards on seven carries, hitting marks matched by only four other SEC quarterbacks in the last 30 years. Tim Couch is the only other Kentucky gunslinger to throw for at least 330 yards and five touchdowns on 74-plus percent passing in a single game.
“He’s really done a phenomenal job with his presence in the pocket, and each and every week, he’s getting more and more confident in that,” Mark Stoops said during his call-in show Monday evening. “The other thing I think he’s really doing at a high level right now is he’s been exceptional at throwing the ball with accuracy on the move. Under duress, he’s gotten way better since the first game of the year this year that he started, and then in trusting that he’s going to have some protection. …
“He’s been hanging in there when he has to hang in the pocket, but he’s escaping at times, and then he’s been remarkably accurate when he’s on the move.”
Seeing so many quarterbacks torch the Kentucky defense this year, along with coming up with game plans for all of the opposing greats to come and go over the years, Stoops is grateful to have an elite one on his sideline that others have to figure out.
“Cutter is a tough young man, and he’s getting bigger and stronger. He has a very good feel for that pocket right now. That’s been fun because, as a defensive guy, to coach a lot of defenses, that’s very aggravating when you feel like you got things matched up really well and pretty decent pressure, and you escape and make something happen.”
What if I told you not one, but two former Wildcats are helping Boley in that ongoing breakthrough?
Andre Woodson, who threw for 9,360 yards and 81 touchdowns as a two-time All-SEC selection in his four-year career in Lexington, has built a relationship with the redshirt freshman as he’s found his footing. From one in-state kid to another, the Radcliff native has been in Boley’s shoes and wants to help him live up to that superstar potential in the blue and white.
“I know Andre reached out to him and talked to him, and I appreciate that. With Andre — you know, these guys care about Kentucky. They care about how we play and want to see a guy like Cutter develop. It’s been good.”
It’s not just Woodson, though. In fact, there is a former player in that building taking Boley under his wing as a hands-on mentor — the guy who actually followed No. 3 in Lexington, suiting up from 2007-2010. Mike Hartline, who threw for 5,680 yards and 38 touchdowns during his time at Kentucky, is now an offensive quality control coach on Stoops’ staff.
What Bush Hamdan doesn’t have time for as offensive coordinator, Hartline steps in to do the heavy lifting with Boley’s development. Without him, we don’t see the current on-field success for the kid from Hodgenville.
“Another one that has made a big difference for him is Michael Hartline,” Stoops said. “I tell you, Michael does a really good job. Bush has a lot on his plate and a lot to work on, and we’re up there all hours, day and night, but a lot of times when Cutter comes in, he spends one-on-one time with Michael. He’s really done a good job, he’s been a great addition to our staff.
“It’s another UK guy that cares about this place, and I’m very impressed with him. He’s a great coach, and he’s really helped us, and he’s helped Cutter.”
Two great Kentucky quarterbacks, but can Boley be better? He’s already up to 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns with five games to go as a redshirt freshman — then three more years of eligibility.
Things are starting to stick for the kid.
Kentucky
LSU fires Brian Kelly, owes $53 million buyout
The dominoes are falling in the SEC, the latest potentially impacting Kentucky in terms of candidates should the Wildcats move on from Mark Stoops. LSU has fired head coach Brian Kelly, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, coming off the Tigers’ 49-25 loss to Texas A&M to fall to 5-3 on the season.
It’s been an all-day back-and-forth leading to the breakup Sunday night, conversations taking place earlier regarding staff changes and a potential parting of ways, Nakos ultimately reporting Kelly’s status was “in limbo” and “in flux” in Baton Rouge. Those “high-level discussions” included officials within the athletic department, executives at the university, and even Gov. Jeff Landry.
Kelly was in his fourth season at LSU after signing a 10-year, $95 million deal back in 2021. With a combined record of 34-14 and 19-10 in the SEC, including 10-win seasons in each of his first two seasons, he will be owed a $53 million buyout — the second-largest in college football history, behind only former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.
He joins James Franklin (Penn State) and Billy Napier (Florida) as Power 4 coaches fired during the 2025 season with 12 total FBS jobs already open.
What does that mean for Kentucky, now 2-5 on the year and 0-5 in conference play coming off an embarrassing 56-34 loss to Tennessee? Lane Kiffin has been a rumored target for not only Florida, but also LSU — the latter potentially more of a threat to reel him in from Oxford. Where would the Gators go from there? Franklin and Kelly are free agents, but Louisville’s Jeff Brohm is a name that has been tossed around. Would Oregon OC Will Stein return home to coach at his alma mater as a former Card? That would take a big-time target for the Wildcats off the table. Where does Jon Sumrall fit into all of this? Does UF go after the Tulane head coach? Does he replace Kiffin at Ole Miss?
Needless to say, the coaching carousel is spinning out of control with Kentucky potentially in the market for a new leader.
Kentucky
Leaders condemn hate speech flyers found in central Kentucky cities
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Authorities across Kentucky are investigating after Ku Klux Klan (KKK) propaganda was found in several cities of the Bluegrass, including Lexington.
Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift announced on Oct. 22 that hundreds of the racist flyers had been scattered downtown, in neighborhoods, and even at a local school.
Vandegrift called the flyers- spreading hateful messages toward people of color – disturbing and completely out of line with Midway’s values.
Investigators asked anyone with information to come forward. Around 6 p.m. on Thursday, the Versailles Police Department posted on Facebook, announcing to community members that officers stood firmly against racism and discrimination in all forms.
“We remain committed to respecting and protecting the safety, rights, and dignity of all people,” Versailles officers wrote.
Gov. Andy Beshear posted on social media Thursday after learning about the racist propaganda to condemn the acts of spreading hate.
“These messages have no place in Kentucky,” Beshear wrote. “Our commonwealth is a place where we lead with love, and we will not tolerate hate.”
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