No. 17 Tennessee has left itself very little wiggle room when it comes to seeking a second consecutive spot in the College Football Playoff.
In one of sports’ most intense border wars, the Volunteers (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) will cross the state line to face Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) on Saturday night in Lexington.
After suffering another loss to a top SEC power, 37-20 at Alabama last weekend, Vols coach Josh Heupel said he expects a tough battle along the lines of scrimmage, areas that are the Wildcats’ strengths.
“Their offensive line, their experience and physicality, is a big part of their identity,” he said Monday. “Defensively, again, big and strong up front. Multiple-front structure rotation.”
Heupel added that he expects to bring a healthy Joey Aguilar to the Bluegrass State in the 121st meeting between the fierce rivals in a series that began in 1893.
“Obviously a couple of hits that Joey took, but he’ll be ready to go this Saturday,” said Heupel of Aguilar, who was banged up by the Crimson Tide.
A former Appalachian State signal-caller, Aguilar spent a moment at UCLA before transferring to the SEC program when ex-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava portaled his way to the Los Angeles school.
Following consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons at App State, Aguilar, a senior, has thrown for 1,948 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has rushed for two scores.
Running back DeSean Bishop and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II each have produced seven TDs and lead their respective skill groups. 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 played a tough schedule, dropping conference games against Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
Arch Manning and the Longhorns beat them 16-13 in overtime in Lexington last weekend.
Kentucky’s Cutter Boley has taken over the quarterback position in place of Zach Calzada, who injured his right shoulder in the season’s second game, a 30-23 loss to Ole Miss.
However, Boley himself was hurt against the Longhorns, injuring his ankle but returning to the game to lead a series that ended with the game-tying field goal with 14 seconds left to create overtime.
Coach Mark Stoops raved about the play of the Kentucky native Boley, a redshirt freshman from Hodgenville.
“He’s more comfortable in the pocket,” Stoops said of Boley, who was 31-of-39 passubg for 258 yards with an interception against Texas. “He’s been doing a good job of working around (in the pocket), and even under duress, he’s been delivering the football. I was very encouraged by the completion percentage.
“I think Cutter’s playing at a high level.”
Seth McGowan tops Kentucky with 476 rushing yards on 93 attempts with a team-best seven scores. Kendrick Law has 199 receiving yards on 22 catches with a TD.
“We’re playing a border war game, a rivalry game,” Heupel added. “You look at it and these games historically have been very tight. … Statistically (against Texas), (Kentucky) won the game in about every way, just not on the scoreboard.”
Tennessee holds an 84-26-9 advantage in the series, including 26 straight victories from 1985 to 2010.
