The Kentucky Wildcats are now set to face the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville.

As the Cats look to pull off a major upset, this week has been an interesting one. From the quarterback questions to the numerous starters out due to injury, Kentucky will have an uphill battle in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.

This week’s injury report has not seen many major changes since Wednesday night, but that changed tonight.

The big update in tonight’s injury report was DJ Waller being downgraded to out. He was listed as questionable on Wednesday and probable on Thursday, so it looks like he may have had some sort of setback.

However, Deone Walker has been removed from the report altogether and is scheduled to take the field for the Cats on Saturday night.

It is going to be a tough fight in Knoxville. Do the Cats have what it takes to pull it off?

Prepping for Election Day? We’ve got your guide for Nashville-area and statewide Tennessee races.

The only statewide race on the ballot this year is a battle for the U.S. Senate, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, is seeking a second six-year term against Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson.

All nine U.S. House seats are up for election this year in Tennessee and all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Only the even-numbered state Senate seats are up for grabs in 2024.

Many counties and towns across the state also have local races on the ballot. One of the most high-profile will be a referendum in Nashville on transit.

More: Four key races to watch and why they matter

Here’s highlights of the races you can expect to see on your ballot. Follow the links below to find information on candidates, key issues:

U.S. President

Tennesseans are gearing up to make a historic pick, selecting the 47^th president of the United States. The primary options – Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – couldn’t be more different, but the nominees do share some similarities. 

Compare: Where Harris and Trump stand on key issues

National impacts: USA TODAY’s guide to the 2024 election

U.S. Senate in Tennessee

Who is running: Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is seeking a second six-year term against state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, whose political profile shot to national prominence last year amid gun control protests and the Tennessee Three expulsion hearings.

Compare: Meet the US Senate candidates

U.S. House in Middle Tennessee

All nine U.S. House seats are up for election this year in Tennessee and Districts 4 through 7 touch parts of the Nashville area and Middle Tennessee. While unseating a Republican incumbent in deep red Tennessee is an uphill battle, U.S. Reps. Scott DesJarlais, R-Murfreesboro, Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, and Mark Green, R-Clarksville, all face viable challengers. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is challenging Green. First-time candidate and longtime political activist Maryam Abolfazli takes on Ogles. DesJarlais is challenged by Lincoln County Democratic Party Chair Victoria Broderick.

Find your district and learn more: Meet candidates for Middle Tennessee’s US House races

Stay in the know: Download our app for breaking election news and alerts

Nashville transit referendum

What’s on the ballot: The $3.1 billion “Choose House You Move” plan would levy a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transit projects such as doubling cross town bus routes, extend bus service routes and connect existing bus transit centers to each other, streamlining travel across capital of Tennessee.

Transit plan details: What it costs, what it will do

Tennessee state Senate

In the state Senate, half of the 33 seats are up for a vote this year. In 2024, even-numbered districts face election for four-year terms. Independents will appear on the ballot in November. In three Senate districts, incumbents face no opposition.

Voter Guide: Who is running in Middle Tennessee state Senate races

Tennessee state House

Voters across Tennessee will have a chance to vote in all 99 Tennessee House of Representative districts this year. In 31 districts, there is only one candidate on the ballot. Meanwhile, although Republicans hold a supermajority in the state House and they are at no risk of losing it, Democrats are hoping to make gains and are eyeing about five competitive legislative seats.

Voter Guide: Middle Tennessee’s competitive state House races

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Tennessee voting guides

Below are links to everything a voter needs to know about elections in East, Middle and West Tennessee.

Knox News: Voter Guide for East Tennessee 2024 Elections

The Tennessean: Voter Guide for Middle Tennessee 2024 Elections

Commercial Appeal: Voter Guide for West Tennessee 2024 Elections

You surely are aware of Tennessee’s coaching turnover in football. But as prevalent as it has been, it can’t match Mississippi State’s.

 You will be reminded of that when the Bulldogs visit Neyland Stadium on Nov. 9.

Since Dan Mullen left the Bulldogs for Florida after the 2017 season, they have had four coaches. That doesn’t include Greg Knox, who twice has had to finish out recent seasons as an interim coach.

Perhaps, the Bulldogs are still trying to hire a Mullen-type coach. That’s what all their hires aside from Zach Arnett suggest.

Arnett, a successful defensive coordinator, was hired after the death of coach Mike Leach in December of 2022.

Like Mullen, Leach was an offensive-minded coach. And like Mullen, he was successful.

Its other two recent hires didn’t fare as well. Joe Moorhead, another coach renowned for offense, lasted only two years. Arnett lasted just one. He was fired after going 5-7 and winning only one SEC game last season. 

You know what that meant? Mississippi State has earned the reputation for the quickest firing trigger of any program in the SEC.

It’s up to Jeff Lebby to change that. Not surprisingly, his chances for success likely will be tied to his offense.

He got high marks for offense in his coordinator days at UCF and Oklahoma. But running those offenses isn’t comparable to running Mississippi State’s program, especially this season.

I can understand why Lebby couldn’t resist the temptation of an SEC head-coaching opportunity. However, his timing wasn’t great.

Mississippi State’s recruiting was disrupted by all the coaching changes. Sure, there is a greater opportunity for quick fixes now that transfers move so often and with such ease. But those changes can’t completely make up for a program’s instability.

That accounts for just one of Lebby’s disadvantages in his first head-coaching job.

The Bulldogs became accustomed to difficult SEC schedules from their time in the SEC West. But they didn’t get a break when the conference expanded to 16 teams and did away with the divisional setup.

Tennessee is just one of many Bulldogs opponents that was nationally ranked in preseason. They already have played Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M. After Tennessee comes Missouri and Ole Miss.

Ole Miss’ successful surge under Lane Kiffin, Lebby’s former boss, also could work against him. He’s joining the in-state rivalry when the Rebels are at the top of their game.

But maybe, he can do what Mullen did: develop a potent offense and sign enough three-star recruits who turn into four-star players.

ADAMS: One reader rips Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel. Another offers offensive tips

Nonetheless, Tennessee should be pleased that someone other than Mullen will be coaching against it.

The Vols were 0-1 against him in his nine seasons at Mississippi State and 0-4 against him when he was at Florida from 2018 through 2021.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.