Kentucky coach Will Stein praises Tennessee ahead of Nov. 7 meeting in Knoxville

Tennessee is on its bye week after a loss at South Carolina last weekend, and the Volunteers now face a crucial four-game stretch to close the regular season with likely no room for error. The first test in that stretch comes against Kentucky, a team that has surged to 7-1 and into the driver's seat in the SEC under first-year head coach Will Stein, with a College Football Playoff berth now within reach.

Speaking on Wednesday, Stein noted that both teams are off this weekend and said he did not mind talking openly about the matchup. He called Tennessee one of the elite teams in the country, good in all three phases, and described Josh Heupel as one of the dynamic play callers in college football over the last decade or so. Heupel is 5-0 against Kentucky at Tennessee, including 2-0 in Knoxville, and Kentucky's last win in the series came in 2020, its first win in Knoxville since 1984.

Stein also spoke at length about defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, whom he will face for a fourth time. Stein's Oregon offense scored 32 points in a home win over Knowles and Ohio State in 2024, then managed only 21 in a playoff rematch, and later scored 30 in a win when Knowles was briefly at Penn State. Stein called Knowles a phenomenal coordinator whose defense is very hard to game plan against and one of the best in the business.

Kentucky's numbers are modest on paper, with an offense ranked 71st at 386 yards per game and a defense ranked 72nd, but its turnover margin of plus-13 ranks third in the FBS and helps explain the record. Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey has thrown for 1,755 yards and 14 touchdowns against just one interception. Stein said he has nothing but respect for Tennessee's staff, expects a tough environment, and believes his players are looking forward to the challenge. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m. ET in Knoxville on Saturday, November 7, with ESPN carrying the game.