Tennessee at Kentucky - 2025 Matchup Preview
Tennessee logo (#15)Tennessee Volunteers at Kentucky WildcatsKentucky logo
Saturday, October 25th 2025 (12:00 AM EDT)
Commonwealth Stadium - Lexington, KY  (SEC)

 
Volunteers (2 - 1) (3 - 0 - 0)
Coach Josh Heupel (37 - 14)
Avg Score : 53 - 29 (53 - 29 on Road)
Record Prediction: 8.3 - 3.7 (#37)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 1) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 4) (Good: 3) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 2)
TENN 2nd straight Road Game
UK 2nd straight Home Game
Our Line: Tennessee -11   (SP+ TENN -12.5)

Projected Score: TENN: 40 - UK: 29 (68)
TENN Win prob: 78% | Cover: 49%
TENN Travel: 146 miles
Wildcats (2 - 1) (1 - 2 - 0)
Coach Mark Stoops (77 - 73)
Avg Score : 32 - 23 (32 - 23 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 4.8 - 7.2 (#103)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 1) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 5) (Good: 3) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
 
Tennessee's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 Tennessee vs Syracuse-13.553.5W 45 - 26OY
Sat 9/6 Tennessee vs East Tennessee State-39.558.5W 72 - 17OY
Sat 9/13 Tennessee vs Georgia+3.550.5L 41 - 44OY
Sat 9/20 Tennessee vs UAB-39.569.5
Sat 9/27 Tennessee at Mississippi State-5.5
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/11 Tennessee vs Arkansas-9
Sat 10/18 Tennessee at Alabama+9
Sat 10/25 Tennessee at Kentucky-11
Sat 11/1 Tennessee vs Oklahoma+1.5
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/15 Tennessee vs New Mexico State-39.5
Sat 11/22 Tennessee at Florida-2.5
Sat 11/29 Tennessee vs Vanderbilt-7

Total: Elite: 5, Good: 3, Avg 1, Bad 0, Poor 3
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 0, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 4, Good: 3, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 0, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Tennessee's Schedule
Kentucky's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 Kentucky vs Toledo-10.048.5W 24 - 16UN
Sat 9/6 Kentucky vs Ole Miss+8.051.5L 23 - 30OY
Sat 9/13 Kentucky vs Eastern Michigan-26.549.5W 48 - 23ON
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/27 Kentucky at South Carolina+6
Sat 10/4 Kentucky at Georgia+20
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/18 Kentucky vs Texas+12.5
Sat 10/25 Kentucky vs Tennessee+11
Sat 11/1 Kentucky at Auburn+18
Sat 11/8 Kentucky vs Florida+6
Sat 11/15 Kentucky vs Tennessee Tech-32.5
Sat 11/22 Kentucky at Vanderbilt+12
Sat 11/29 Kentucky at Louisville+10

Total: Elite: 6, Good: 3, Avg 1, Bad 0, Poor 2
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 0, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 5, Good: 3, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 1
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 0, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Kentucky's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
TENN#17 (.43)53% (22)52.751% (35)3.07 (61)21654% (21)3595.22 (26)#73 (.14)43% (89)2947% (102)39% (62)5.13 (124)6411.3
UK#77 (.18)44% (65)31.754% (22)3.53 (24)21529% (130)1714.19 (60)#82 (.16)40% (70)2338% (65)41% (79)3.94 (88)49.30.71.3
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
TENN#46 (.23)47% (18)48% (23)3.4 (13)22747% (19)2214.02 (55)#13 (.07)38% (17)36% (9)39% (48)3.03 (10)66.81.21.6
UK#118 (.09)41% (89)47% (31)3.02 (71)14635% (123)1853.49 (104)#62 (.16)46% (111)49% (122)42% (75)3.44 (31)52.11.91.3



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
TENN Offense352.752.752.6%5.221295742163595.449%51%51%54%8%.43
UK Defense3232339.6%3.941.3 - - - - - 51%49%38%41%12%.16
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
TENN Defense3292942.6%5.131.3 - - - - - 51%49%47%39%17%.14
UK Offense331.731.743.9%4.190.7203852151715.159%40%54%29%14%.18

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Tennessee327:2028.758%0%7.76411.364030
Kentucky331:162043%33%5.349.30.71.34.71.7035.7
Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
TENN Offense349% (76)51% (35)40215.75.48 (26).26 (38)3.07 (61)76% (51)4% (5)0.94 (73)
UK Defense351% (75)38% (65) - - - - - (46)2.52 (45)69% (66)8% (102)0.94 (71)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
TENN Defense351% (84)47% (102) - - - - .06 (67)2.69 (58)79% (106)10% (76)0.64 (7)
UK Offense359% (20)54% (22)42214.75.19 (17).3 (32)3.53 (24)57% (114)7% (38)0.92 (78)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
TENN Offense351% (58)54% (21)2638.7358.79.313.811 (5)2 (60).6 (15)1.6 (47)26% (27)33% (62).58 (28)4% (45)2.5 (15)
UK Defense349% (65)41% (79) - - - - - - 4 (12).32 (104)1.7 (103)33% (62)30% (76).43 (104)4% (102)2.1 (80)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
TENN Defense349% (61)39% (62) - - - - - - 2 (56).23 (74)1.6 (80)28% (114)16% (17).17 (44)8% (30)3 (136)
UK Offense340% (118)29% (130)12.725.7170.76.713.52 (102)1 (23).07 (122)1.9 (12)29% (55)20% (124)-.01 (124)7% (102)1.9 (76)

Tennessee's Power Ratings
Tennessee's Power Rating: 23.58 #20
Tennessee's Offense Rating: 27.17 #11
Tennessee's Defense Rating: 3.59 #48
2025 Talent Rating: 910.00 #20
Blue Chip Ratio: 53% #10
Tennessee's 2025 Expected Record: 8.3 - 3.7
Tennessee's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 21.8 #6
Tennessee's Offense SP+ Rating: 36.8 #12
Tennessee's Defense SP+ Rating: 15.2 #10

Average Talent
Average SEC Talent Rating is 951.5
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85

Power Ratings Matchup
Tennessee: 23.58   Kentucky: 11.615

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Tennessee: 21.8   Kentucky: 9.1




Kentucky's Power Ratings
Kentucky's Power Rating: 11.615 #57
Kentucky's Offense Rating: 14.60 #56
Kentucky's Defense Rating: 5.47 #60
2025 Talent Rating: 896.00 #26
Blue Chip Ratio: 25 #23
Kentucky's 2025 Expected Record: 4.8 - 7.2
Kentucky's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 9.1 #41
Kentucky's Offense SP+ Rating: 28.6 #62
Kentucky's Defense SP+ Rating: 19.8 #29

Average Talent
Average SEC Talent Rating is 951.5
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85


Tennessee Scoring
Offense: 52.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 52.7
Defense: 29 PPG
Defense on Road: 29

Tennessee's 2025 Record
Record: 2 - 1
Record vs Spread: 3 - 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
Tennessee 40
Kentucky 29


Total Points: 68

Kentucky Scoring
Offense: 31.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 31.7
Defense: 23 PPG
Defense at Home: 23

Kentucky's 2025 Record
Record: 2 - 1
Record vs Spread: 1 - 2 - 0
Record at home: 2 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 1 - 2 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreWinnerSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202411/02Tennessee28Kentucky18TennesseeTennessee -17.5Kentucky45.5Over
202310/28Kentucky27Tennessee33TennesseeTennessee -4Tennessee50.5Over
202210/29Tennessee44Kentucky6TennesseeTennessee -10.5Tennessee62.5Under
202111/06Kentucky42Tennessee45TennesseeTennessee -1Tennessee57.5Over
202010/17Tennessee7Kentucky34KentuckyTennessee -6.0Kentucky45.5Under
201911/09Kentucky13Tennessee17TennesseeKentucky -2Tennessee42.0Under
201811/10Tennessee24Kentucky7TennesseeKentucky -5Tennessee43.0Under
201710/28Kentucky29Tennessee26KentuckyKentucky -4Tennessee46.0Over
201611/12Tennessee49Kentucky36TennesseeTennessee -10.5Tennessee58.0Over
201510/31Kentucky21Tennessee52TennesseeTennessee -7.5Tennessee60.5Over
201411/15Tennessee50Kentucky16TennesseeTennessee -6.5Tennessee0
201311/30Kentucky14Tennessee27TennesseeTennessee -4Tennessee0
201211/24Tennessee37Kentucky17Tennessee
201111/26Kentucky10Tennessee7Kentucky
201011/27Tennessee24Kentucky14Tennessee
200911/28Kentucky24Tennessee30Tennessee
200811/29Tennessee28Kentucky10Tennessee
200711/24Kentucky50Tennessee52Tennessee
200611/25Tennessee17Kentucky12Tennessee
200511/26Kentucky8Tennessee27Tennessee
200411/27Tennessee37Kentucky31Tennessee
200311/29Kentucky7Tennessee20Tennessee
200111/17Kentucky35Tennessee38Tennessee
200011/17Tennessee59Kentucky20Tennessee
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Kentucky326 Overs
Tennessee21104 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams13 - 114 - 83 - 41 - 4
Road Teams11 - 138 - 44 - 14 - 3

(#20) Tennessee Info
Power Rating: 23.58 #20
Offense Rating: 27.17 #11
Defense Rating: 3.59 #48
Overall SP+ Rating: 21.8 #6
Offense SP+ Rating: 36.8 #12
Defense SP+ Rating: 15.2 #10
Talent Rating: 910.00 #20
Blue Chip Ratio: 53% #10
Expected Record: 8.3 - 3.7

Team Profile
Balanced offense, Pass: 51%, Run: 49%
Great Offense Success Rate of 53%
Great Offensive Explosiveness
Good in Scoring Position 5.22 PPO
Good Run Success 51%
Great Pass Success 54%
Avg OL Grades, Avg OL Yds Per Rush
Good DL Grades, Bad Sacks/Turnovers
Poor Defense Success Rate of 43%
Awful in Scoring Position 5.13 PPO
Poor Run Def Success 47%
Avg Pass Def Success 39%
Avg Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Bad Field Position

Tennessee has lost 5 straight
Tennessee has lost 2 straight on the Road
Record on Road: 0 - 0 (0 - 0 - 0 vs Spread )

Tennessee Notes
(9/15) Aguliar has been good, WR Brazzell a great one
(9/1) Starting CB McCoy out early season (ACL rec)
(9/1) Starting CB R Gibson out until Oct (arm inj)
(8/30) 500+ yds vs Cuse, Aguilar good on deep shots
(8/17) QB1 Aguliar (App St) wins battle for starter
(7/25) TE Kitselman a top TE, but injured in spring
(7/25) CB duo McCoy/Gibson great, is McCoy healthy?
(5/11) OL exp bottom 20 & 53% comes from portals
(5/6) OT Heard was last in SEC in PFF grading
(5/4) Basically traded Nico for Joey Aguliar (App St QB)

Tennessee Highlights
Tennessee is Undefeated vs Spread

Tennessee has Really Good Running Game (#21)
Tennessee offense is efficent (#22)
Tennessee offense is good in red zone (#26)
Tennessee offense is good on 3rd downs
Tennessee Defense Sacks the QB a lot

Tennessee defense does not give up big plays (#18)
Tennessee Secondary is very good (#30)

Tennessee Deficiencies
Tennessee Commits a Lot of Penalties (#109)
Tennessee Does Not Stuff Runs (#111)
Tennessee has a bad red zone defense (#124)

Performance GradesPerf Grades
CategoryCatUKTENN
OverallOver#37#13
OffenseOff#73#13
DefenseDef#20#40
Special TeamsST#31#52
PassingPass#98#7
RushingRush#33#10
Run BlockRBLK#44#64
Pass BlockPBLK#31#35
Route RunningWR Rt#94#10
TacklingTkl#75#35
Run DefenseR Def#14#55
Pass Rush DefPRush#9#7
Coverage DefCov#80#67

Previous Matchups
Tennessee beat Kentucky last year (28-18)
Tennessee beat Kentucky in 2023 (33-27)
Tennessee beat Kentucky in 2022 (44-6)

Weather Forecast
Playing in Commonwealth Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: TENN | UK
Depth Chart: TENN | UK
Rosters: TENN | UK
(#57) Kentucky Info
Power Rating: 11.615 #57
Offense Rating: 14.60 #56
Defense Rating: 5.47 #60
Overall SP+ Rating: 9.1 #41
Offense SP+ Rating: 28.6 #62
Defense SP+ Rating: 19.8 #29
Talent Rating: 896.00 #26
Blue Chip Ratio: 25 #23
Expected Record: 4.8 - 7.2

Team Profile
Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 40%
Avg Offense Success Rate of 44%
Avg Offensive Explosiveness
Avg in Scoring Position 4.19 PPO
Great Run Success 54%
Awful Pass Success 29%
Avg OL Grades, Good OL Yds Per Rush
Great DL Grades, Poor Sacks/Turnovers
Bad Defense Success Rate of 40%
Bad in Scoring Position 3.94 PPO
Avg Run Def Success 38%
Bad Pass Def Success 41%
Awful Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Avg Field Position

Kentucky has lost 3 straight
Kentucky has lost 1 straight at Home
Record at home: 2 - 1 (1 - 2 - 0 vs Spread)

Kentucky Notes
(8/30) Run Off good vs Toledo, but Calzada really bad
(8/13) No NIL $, roster gap getting bigger, harder job
(6/9) AHC Marrow left in June, been w/ UK since '13??
(6/9) Stoops had a great run, but this looks over
(6/8) 6 Def starters from 9 portals, all DL starters
(6/8) 14 proj starters from portal, 8 Off & 6 Def
(6/8) RBs Wilcox good, Dowdell(Neb) + McGowen(NMSU)
(6/8) OL 1/5 back, 7 portal adds. 5 clear starters
(5/11) OL has a lot of exp but 66% comes from portals
(5/5) UK 2-10 run in SEC home games & 0-7 streak

Kentucky Highlights
Kentucky is Undefeated vs Spread as Home Underdogs

Kentucky has Really Good Running Game (#22)
Kentucky has a top Offensive Line (#24)
Kentucky does Not Get Runs Stuffed (#28)

Kentucky has a great TO Margin (#28)
Kentucky defense Intercepts a lot of Passes (#12)

Kentucky Deficiencies
Kentucky pass game is really bad (#130)


  
Tennessee's OC Joey Halzle
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Joey Aguilar (Tr)639566%906929.5
Jake Merklinger91464%118208.4
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Star Thomas (Tr)3322136.727
DeSean Bishop2920417.050
Peyton Lewis217623.68
Daune Morris115014.510
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Chris Brazzell II20364518.272
Braylon Staley18231212.873
Mike Matthews13199115.353
Miles Kitselman87919.918

View Tennessee's Full Roster
Tennessee's DC Tim Banks
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Arion Carter262100
Jalen Mcmurray171101
Andre Turrentine150000
Edrees Farooq140002
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Joshua Josephs123201
Caleb Herring54210
Tyre West101110
Charles House III22100
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Colton Hood (Tr)110005
Ty Redmond90003
Edrees Farooq140002

Kentucky's OC Bush Hamdan
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Zach Calzada (Tr)255347%234014.4
Cutter Boley132454%2782011.6
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Seth McGowan (Tr)5127565.418
Dante Dowdell (Tr)3621415.979
Jason Patterson138016.229
Cutter Boley93804.213
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Josh Kattus8112114.034
Jay Maclin4103025.844
Hardley Gilmore IV (Tr)697016.238
Kendrick Law (Tr)86908.623

View Kentucky's Full Roster
Kentucky's DC Brad White
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Alex Afari Jr.263100
Ty Bryant211000
Jordan Lovett192000
Daveren Rayner170010
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Steven Soles Jr.52201
Mi'Quise Grace (Tr)82120
Alex Afari Jr.263100
Jaden Williams (Tr)11110
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Terhyon Nichols61013
Steven Soles Jr.52201
Quay'sheed Scott90001