Tennessee 45, No. 17 Kentucky 42, final: Get the latest live football updates and scores

Kentucky football is coming off a disappointing loss against Mississippi State last week, but look to turn things around and climb up the College Football Playoff rankings with a win against Tennessee on Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-2, 4-2) take on the Bulldogs (4-4, 2-3) in a game that will be decided by tempo.

"Tempo is definitely a factor," Stoops said. "Communication and defense having a great sense of urgency, getting lined up and covering your guys, definitely a big piece of it."

Slowing Tennessee's offense could be even more difficult with UK facing an injury crisis on defense, beat writer Jon Hale said. Starting nose guard Marquan McCall, starting defensive tackle Octavious Oxendine and starting outside linebacker Jordan Wright will all remain out for the gane.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 81-26-9. Kentucky won the last meeting, a 34-7 victory in Knoxville last season, but Tennessee won the last meeting in Lexington, 17-13, in 2019. Kentucky has not won consecutive games in the series since 1976 and 1977. Kentucky is favored by 1 point. (Last updated Oct. 25)

More:How 'Grove Street Party' became the unofficial anthem of Kentucky football

More:3 things to know about Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez, the SEC's leading rusher

Final: Tennessee 45, No. 17 Kentucky 42

UK was able to get a fresh set of downs, but was not able to capitilize on the opportunity. The Cats went for it on 4th and 10 from the Vols' 38, but Levis' pass went out of bounds and turned the ball over on downs.

Tennessee got into victory formation and ended the game.

Levis ends the game 31 for 49 passing with 372 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Levis also had two rushing touchdowns in the game. Chris Rodriguez tallied 109 yards on 22 carries and Wan'Dale Robinson had 166 yards on 13 catches and a TD.

1:05, 4Q- Mark Stoops hit with penalty after no face mask call

Will Levis was taken down on third and 6, but it seems the officials missed a face mask penalty on the defense. 

Head coach Mark Stoops was livid and let the officials know of his displeasure, and UK's 4th and 9 turned into 4th and 24.

Luckily, Levis was able to find Izayah Cummings for a 28-yard strike to breathe life back into the Wildcats.

4:42, 4Q- Tennessee misses field goal, 45-42

UK's JJ weaver put together two sacks in the Vols' last set of downs, and UT's 35-yard field-goal attempt on fourth and goal is unsuccessful.

The Wildcats get the ball back on their own 18-yard line with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. 

More:Three things to know about J.J. Weaver, Kentucky football's six-fingered pass rusher

9:36, 4Q- Izayah Cummings muscles his way to end zone, 45-42

The Wildcats refuse to go down easily.

UK took just five plays to score, powered by a gritty run up the middle by Chris Rodriguez before Levis threw a 24-yard pass to Cummings. The former Male product had a defender pulling him down by the jersey, but he refused to stop until his feet touched blue grass.

Cummings has three catches for 47 yards and a score.

More:Why players like Male’s Izayah Cummings could be key for Kentucky football’s passing game

11:40, 4Q- Tillman's catches lead to TD for Vols, 45-35

After a spectacular 38-yard pass to Cedric Tillman to get the Vols deep into the red zone, Hendon Hooker went back to Tillman on the very next play for a 6-yard touchdown.

Hooker is 15 for 19 passing for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Tillman has 6 catches for 80 yards and a score in the game.

1:20, 3Q- UK's Robinson leaps for touchdown catch, 38-35

That's a way to get the crowd excited!

The Wildcats marched down the field in 9 plays covering 75 yards to set up a beautiful and athletic 15-yard catch by Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson has 109 yards on 9 catches and a touchdown so far in the game.

UK is back within one score after the drive.

More:Three things to know about Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky football's star wide receiver

6:23, 3Q- Pick six by Alontae Taylor puts Vols up 38-28

The Vols have created a bit of separation after UT's Alontae Taylor intercepts Levis' pass for a 56-yard touchdown. Levis was turning up the heat after his score, completing two passes to Josh Ali before the pick.

The packed Kroger Field crowd has fallen silent again as the Wildcats go down two scores in the third quarter.

9:11, 3Q- Jabari Smalls jukes and scores for Vols, 31-28

This looks a little familiar.

On the Vols' first drive of the half, it took them just 45 seconds and three plays to score on an impressive 37-yard run by Smalls. 

Remember, Tennessee's first two scores of the game came very quiand easily. Can UK's defense put together consistent stops?

9:56, 3Q- Levis scores to give UK lead, 28-24

The Wildcats strike first out of the half.

A 27-yard pass to Wan'Dale Robinson from Will Levis got UK into the redzone and three plays later, Levis scored on a quarterback keeper.

UK shaved just a little over five minutes off the clock in its second-half opening drive.

Halftime: Tennessee 24, Kentucky 21

After a rough defensive start, the Wildcats go into the locker room down three to Tennessee.

UK's Will Levis is 14 of 21 passing for 136 yards and a touchdown so far in this game. Chris Rodriguez has 53 yards on 12 carries and WR Wan'Dale Robinson has six catches for 64 yards.

Hendon Hooker is 11 of 13 passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Velus Jones Jr. has 88 yards on three catches and JaVonta Payton has 78 yards on two catches for Tennessee.

0:02, 2Q- Vols take lead on field goal to end the half, 24-21

With just over a minute left in the half, the Wildcats could not hold the Vols off before heading into the locker room.

The Vols just needed four plays to score with three consecutive pass completions by Hooker to set up the 43-yard field goal.

1:14, 2Q- Tennessee evens the score, 21-21 

The Vols managed to get one more score in before halftime on a Hendon Hooker 18-yard pass to Jacob Warren. A defensive pass interference called on UK's Vito Tisdale on 4th and 4 helped the Vols extend the drive and get on the scoreboard.

Can the Cats get the lead back before intermission?

3:57, 2Q- UK takes the lead, 21-14

This is more like it...

After a rough defensive start, the Wildcats take the lead late into the first half on a 3-yard pass from Levis to Justin Riggs. On the play before, Levis kept the ball for a 14-yard run.

Levis is 11 of 14 passing for 109 yards and a touchdown.

10:23, 2Q- Will Levis makes leaping touchdown run, 14-14

And just like that, we're tied up!

On first and goal, quarterback Will Levis kept the ball and leaped over two defenders before getting hit by another in midair. That hit didn't stop the Penn State transfer from landing in the end zone for an 8-yard score, giving the Wildcats a chance to tie with the extra point.

More:Three things to know about Will Levis, Kentucky football's banana-eating quarterback

13:37, 2Q- Kentucky recovers fumble

The Wildcats caught a break after what would've been a touchdown by Jalin Hyatt was brought back as the WR stepped out of bounds at the UK 29.

Two plays later, UT fumbled and Kentucky linebacker Jacquez Jones pounced on it.

14:49,2Q- Wildcats miss field goal, 14-7

After traveling 43 yards in 11 plays, the Wildcats found themselves at the Vols' 32 yard facing a 4th & 15.

UK opted to kick a 50-yard field goal, but Matt Ruffolo's kick was wide right.

5:47, 1Q- Velus Jones races past UK's defense, 14-7

This time, it just took the Vols three plays to score.

On third & 7 at the Vols' 28, Hooker threw a short pass to Velus Jones Jr., who sprinted past DeAndre Square for a 72-yard score. 

6:13, 1Q- Kavosiey Smoke gets UK on the scoreboard, 7-7

The Wildcats shaved more than eight minutes off the clock in their opening drive on the way to a 9-yard touchdown run by Smoke.

The drive took 14 plays to travel 75 yards, but most importantly, it brought a jolt of energy to Kroger Field in a sellout stadium that had grown quiet after UT's opening touchdown.

More:Three things to know about Kentucky's Kavosiey Smoke, one of college football's best names

14:49, 1Q- Tennessee scores on first play of game 7-0

Well, that was quick...

On the Vols' first play from scrimmage, Hendon Hooker threw a  screen pass to JaVonta Payton behind the line of scrimmage, and Payton went untouched on his was to a 75-yard touchdown run.

The longest pass completion UK had given up so far this season was a 41-yard play against LSU.

Marquan McCall dressed out for UK

McCall was sidelined by an injury during the first quarter of Kentucky's 20-13 win over Florida on Oct. 2. He returned to the sideline in street clothes with a walking boot on his right foot using crutches to help him walk after halftime.

Head coach Mark Stoops said there was a chance the nose guard would play against Mississippi State last week, but he never touched the field. McCall will be dressed for the first time since that Week 5 injury.

More:What to know about Kentucky NG Marquan McCall, the Wildcats defensive line 'bully'

How to watch the game

Kentucky vs. Tennessee kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kroger Field.

Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline) will have the call on ESPN2. That’s DirecTV 209, Dish 143 and Spectrum Cable 509/924 in Louisville and Lexington. 

Eligible subscribers can stream the game online via WatchESPN. Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jeff Piecoro (analyst) and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington or online at UKAthletics.com. 

— Jon Hale