#7 Vols look to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The seventh-ranked football team returns to action Saturday night as they host border rival Kentucky.

After the second open date of the season, Tennessee looks to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play.

The Big Orange will play its sixth evening game of the season with kickoff at 7:45 PM on SEC Network.

This game also marks the return of Tennessee’s “Dark Mode” uniforms, which will be worn for the fifth time since their introduction in 2021.

The Vols are 3-1 in their previous four games when wearing the ‘Dark Mode’ uniforms, posting wins over South Carolina (2021 and 2023) and Kentucky (2022).

UT is 4-1 overall when wearing black jerseys, having also defeated the Gamecocks on Halloween night in 2009, when the team surprisingly came out in black jerseys after warmups.

As for things to watch for in the game, running back Dylan Sampson enters the game tied with Reggie Cobb (1987) for second in program history in rushing touchdowns in a single season with 17 and has a chance to make it to match or surpass Gene McEver’s record of 18. rushing scores, a record that has stood since 1929.

UT has won 18 of the last 19 meetings against UK at Neyland Stadium, including a 44-6 win the last time the two sides met in Knoxville on Oct. 29, 2022, a game in which the Vols also wore their “Dark Mode.” uniforms.

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