Tennessee coach Josh Heupel talks with Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) throughout a university soccer sport between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025. No. 17 Tennessee has left itself little or no wiggle room relating to looking for a second consecutive spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
In considered one of sports activities’ most intense border wars, the Volunteers (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Convention) will cross the state line to face Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) on Saturday night time in Lexington.
After struggling one other loss to a high SEC energy, 37-20 at Alabama final weekend, Vols coach Josh Heupel stated he expects a troublesome battle alongside the traces of scrimmage, areas which are the Wildcats’ strengths.
“Their offensive line, their expertise and physicality, is an enormous a part of their identification,” he stated Monday. “Defensively, once more, huge and robust up entrance. A number of-front construction rotation.”
Heupel added that he expects to carry a wholesome Joey Aguilar to the Bluegrass State within the 121st assembly between the fierce rivals in a collection that started in 1893.
“Clearly a few hits that Joey took, however he’ll be able to go this Saturday,” stated Heupel of Aguilar, who was banged up by the Crimson Tide.
A former Appalachian State signal-caller, Aguilar spent a second at UCLA earlier than transferring to the SEC program when ex-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava portaled his strategy to the Los Angeles college.
Following consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons at App State, Aguilar, a senior, has thrown for 1,948 yards with 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has rushed for 2 scores.
Operating again DeSean Bishop and huge receiver Chris Brazzell II every have produced seven TDs and lead their respective talent teams. Bishop has produced 604 yards on 77 carries (7.8 per rush). Brazzell has 602 receiving yards on 39 receptions (15.4 per catch).
The Wildcats have performed a troublesome schedule, dropping convention video games towards Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
Arch Manning and the Longhorns beat them 16-13 in additional time in Lexington final weekend.
Kentucky’s Cutter Boley has taken over the quarterback place instead of Zach Calzada, who injured his proper shoulder within the season’s second sport, a 30-23 loss to Ole Miss.
Nonetheless, Boley himself was damage towards the Longhorns, injuring his ankle however returning to the sport to steer a collection that ended with the game-tying area aim with 14 seconds left to create additional time.
Coach Mark Stoops raved concerning the play of the Kentucky native Boley, a redshirt freshman from Hodgenville.
“He is extra comfy within the pocket,” Stoops stated of Boley, who was 31-of-39 passubg for 258 yards with an interception towards Texas. “He is been doing an excellent job of working round (within the pocket), and even beneath duress, he is been delivering the soccer. I used to be very inspired by the completion share.
“I feel Cutter’s enjoying at a excessive degree.”
Seth McGowan tops Kentucky with 476 speeding yards on 93 makes an attempt with a team-best seven scores. Kendrick Regulation has 199 receiving yards on 22 catches with a TD.
“We’re enjoying a border struggle sport, a rivalry sport,” Heupel added. “You have a look at it and these video games traditionally have been very tight. … Statistically (towards Texas), (Kentucky) received the sport in about each manner, simply not on the scoreboard.”
Tennessee holds an 84-26-9 benefit within the collection, together with 26 straight victories from 1985 to 2010.
–Discipline Degree Media
