The Tennessee Volunteers are still alive.
Entering the day No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Vols dismantled the sixth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in Knoxville, 34-6.
Out of 10 offensive drives for the Wildcats, three ended on punts, two on turnovers on downs, two on fumbles and one on an interception, as they only managed two field goals in the contest.
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This one was close for most of the night, with Tennessee leading 13-6 entering the fourth quarter. But the Vols took control in the final period, turning a Kentucky fumble into a touchdown.
Kentucky was unable to convert a 4th and 1 at midfield on the ensuing drive, and it took just two plays for the Vols to score again and make it a three-touchdown lead.
It was rinse and repeat, as the Wildcats were stopped at the Tennessee 22, and the Vols ran on 10 consecutive plays to wrap up a 78-yard touchdown drive.
The Volunteers (7-2, 4-2 in SEC play) are very much alive in the College Football Playoff race. They came in No. 13, while the Wildcats (7-2, 4-2), who had their six-game winning streak snapped, were No. 6.
Tennessee had eight tackles for loss and forced three turnovers. Kentucky came into the game with one of the best turnover margins in the country. DeSean Bishop rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vols used motivation from the fact that Alabama, a team they had beaten by 16 points a few weeks ago, was ranked No. 5 in the first College Football Playoff poll. This was the second “signature” victory Tennessee has gotten this season. Its loss to South Carolina two weeks ago was a difficult part of the playoff formula.
The Wildcats’ path to the College Football Playoff just got more difficult. Losing to Tennessee takes away any margin for error they might have had coming into the game.
The Vols are at Texas A&M next week, while Kentucky will head to Florida.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.