Third-ranked Tennessee dominated from start to finish, dismantling Kentucky, 44-6, in a Southeastern Conference East Division matchup played at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday night.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 5-3 and dashed any hopes of staying in the division title race. The Volunteers moved to 8-0.
Quarterback Will Levis was held to just 98 yards passing, completing 16-of-27 attempts. He was picked off three times and was sacked four times.
Running back Chris Rodriguez ran 15 times for 64 yards. His three-yard TD run pulled Kentucky to within a point at 7-6. The PAT kick was blocked.
Kentucky will travel to Missouri (4-4) to battle the Tigers on Saturday. Kickoff is Noon.
At Knoxville
SCORE BY QUARTER:
UK (5-3) …6 0 0 0 – 6
UT (8-0)….7 20 10 7 – 44
Scoring:
First Quarter
UT – Jalin Hyatt, 55-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), 13:33
UK – Chris Rodriguez Jr., 3-yard run (kick blocked), 4:44
Second Quarter
UT – Princeton Fant, 2-yard run (kick failed), 14:56
UT – Jaylen Wright, 1-yard run (Chase McGrath kick), 11:12
UT – Jalin Hyatt, 31-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), :22
Third Quarter
UT – Chase McGrath, 31-yard field goal, 6:57
UT – Hendon Hooker, 8-yard run (Chase McGrath kick), 3:58
Fourth Quarter
UT – Jabari Small, 13-yard pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), 7:47
Next up: Kentucky (5-3) at Missouri (4-4), Noon, Nov. 5.