Mark Stoops adds to growing belief of the fate of the Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry
The SEC is about to make a big change in 2024, with Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference and divisions going the way of the dodo. Team opponents were released in June, and many traditional rivalry games were preserved for at least one more season. That's the case for Tennessee, who will play rivals Florida, […]
The SEC is about to make a big change in 2024, with Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference and divisions going the way of the dodo. Team opponents were released in June, and many traditional rivalry games were preserved for at least one more season.
That's the case for Tennessee, who will play rivals Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky in 2024.
But what about after that? With the rotation that is expected to occur, not all of those rivalries will be annual ones moving forward after 2024.
While not announced and made official by the SEC, it's been thought by some in the media and reportedly athletic directors and coaches that Tennessee's three annual permanent opponents after 2024 will be Alabama, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. That would leave Tennessee's annual matchups with the Gators, Bulldogs, and Wildcats in the rearview mirror.
There have also been rumblings of a possible 7-1 model, with one permanent opponent, as per FootballScoops.com citing Nick Saban in one of his weekly shows earlier this month.
Regardless of the model, Mark Stoops' comments during his call-in show this week further fueled belief that the annual Tennessee-Kentucky battle is on the chopping block. Stoops was asked about the future of the series by a caller.
"To answer his question, regardless, whether it's eight – next year it's eight for sure – but after that if it's nine or eight or whatever, we will not play them (Tennessee) every year, "Stoops said. "That's a given. I think that's a foregone conclusion."
The Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry is one that certainly has mostly been one-sided, but it's a border war, and one with the schools only two and a half hours apart. As such, there are many overlaps and interactions between each school's fans, making the rivalry an intense one between the fan bases and underappreciated by those outside the area.
Unfortunately, it's starting to sound like one where annual bragging rights will come primarily from the basketball court – which has also become a compelling series over the past several years.
Tennessee QB Joe Milton caught the attention of Kentucky’s Mark Stoops last Saturday
The Vols’ signal caller had a strong outing against Alabama, and UK’s head coach took notice
