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Tennessee releases depth chart for Kentucky game

Tennessee football releases its Week 10 depth chart versus Kentucky.

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will play its sixth night game of the 2024 regular-season on Saturday. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The Vols will host Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) at Neyland Stadium.

The Week 10 SEC matchup will kick off at 7:45 p.m. EDT and will be televised by SEC Network. Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

Tennessee enters November with one loss and in position to advance to a 12-team College Football Playoff.

“You make your case by going and controlling what you control, which is your performance on Saturdays,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said regarding making a case for the College Football Playoff. “Your preparation takes you there. We’re halfway through the conference schedule. There’s a ton of football. If you are worried about the end result, you’re going to make the mistakes you can’t afford on the way to the end.

“For us, being present, being in the now, preparing in a great way, continuing to grow as a football team. You guys hear me say it, players hear me say it, good teams continue to get better. Our best football is still out in front of us, and we have to go chase that.”

Tennessee released its Week 10 depth chart versus the Wildcats and is below.

Mike Matthews building into larger role with five games remaining

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel discusses freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews having a larger role with five games remaining.

Freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews has appeared in five of Tennessee’s seven contests this season. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound freshman did not play against Chattanooga in Week 1 and versus North Carolina State in Week 2.

Mathews has recorded two receptions for 35 yards and one touchdown, while also returning one kickoff for 32 yards this season. All of his statistics were against Kent State in Week 3.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Monday to kickoff game week for the Vols in preparation for hosting Kentucky (7:45 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

Heupel discussed Matthews building into a larger role with five games remaining in the regular-season.

“Mike has gotten some opportunities,” Heupel said. “I feel like there is a greater opportunity for execution at times when he is out there. Some of that is the guys around him, some of that is him too. We need him to continue to come on and be a big part of what we are doing here on the back half of this conference season.”

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 9

Josh Heupel kicks off Kentucky game week

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel kicks off Kentucky game week.

Josh Heupel will face Kentucky for a fourth time on Saturday during his head coaching tenure at Tennessee. Kickoff between the SEC rivals is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium (SEC Network).

The Vols have scored 33-plus points in all three contests against Kentucky under Heupel since 2021.

Heupel met with media on Monday and discussed Tennessee playing its third consecutive rivalry game this season (Florida, Alabama, Kentucky).

“Another rivalry game this weekend,” Heupel said. “Night game in Neyland, dark mode, looking forward to going and playing in this one. Need our crowd to be a a huge part of the football game, and this week we got to continue our preparation as a football team, get ready to go play our best football.

“You look at Kentucky, it’s a group that, defensively, is playing extremely well. You just look at them statistically, defensively, we got to do a good job. All the formations, motions, control the line of scrimmage, quarterback run game being a part of that as well. For our special teams, they got a dynamic returner that can change the game and got to do a great job against him.”

Game time announced for Tennessee-Kentucky football game

A kickoff time and TV channel have been announced for the Tennessee-Kentucky football game in Week 10.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will return to action on Saturday in Week 10 of the 2024 college football season.

The Vols had their final open date of the season in Week 9. Tennessee will next host Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

A kickoff time has been announced between the Vols and Wildcats. The SEC matchup is slated for 7:45 p.m. EDT and will be televised by SEC Network.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is 3-0 against Kentucky during his tenure with the Vols.

Kentucky enters the Week 10 contest after losing at home to Auburn (3-5, 1-4 SEC), 24-10. The Wildcats have also lost three consecutive games to Auburn, at Florida and versus Vanderbilt.

Josh Heupel discusses advice for Nico Iamaleava from a quarterback perspective

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel discusses advice for Nico Iamaleava from a quarterback perspective.

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava is 7-1 as Tennessee’s starting quarterback dating to the 2024 Citrus Bowl against Iowa.

Through seven contests in 2024, Iamaleava has completed 108-of-170 passing attempts for 1,413 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller has also recorded 179 rushing yards and one touchdown on 53 attempts.

During the Vols’ open date in Week 9, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed what advice he would give Iamaleava from a former quarterback perspective.

“It’s a position that is never going to be perfect,” Heupel said. “Ultimately, quarterbacks get judged on wins and losses no matter what it’s looking like. Being able to go lay it on the line, play aggressive, play the next play, those are the biggest things that we continue to talk about with him. We are really proud of what he did in the second half against Alabama.”

Josh Heupel discusses Tennessee having second open date

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel details the Vols going through a second open date in the regular-season.

Tennessee is ranked No. 8 nationally in the US LBM Coaches Poll in Week 9. The Vols are having their second and final open date of the regular-season.

Tennessee will return to action on Nov. 2 versus Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. The Wildcats are slated to host Auburn on Saturday (7:45 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Wednesday and discussed the Vols’ off week.

“Good practice today,” Heupel said. “Obviously, after the last BYE week, we didn’t play very well, so being intentional in how we work and how we prepare this week. We try to correct some things that we are in control of and continue to get better as a football team. I thought it was good work today, and we have to continue that tomorrow.”

The Vols lost at Arkansas, 19-14, in Week 6 after having their first open date.

Josh Heupel named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Tenenssee’s Josh Heupel named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after defeating Alabama.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel earned coaching honors after the Vols’, 24-17, win versus Alabama in Week 8.

Heupel was named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Tuesday.

“Coach Heupel and his Volunteers made a statement on Saturday,” Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, said. “The Volunteers have seen a resurgence since he took over in 2021, and they look poised to have another big season under his leadership.”

Heupel has also been named to the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List.

The Vols have wins over Chattanooga, North Carolina State, Kent State, Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama this season. Tennessee suffered its only loss at Arkansas on Oct. 5.

Tennessee has its second and final open date on Saturday in Week 9. The Vols will return to action against Kentucky on Nov. 2 at Neyland Stadium.

PHOTOS: Tennessee fans storm the field after beating Alabama

Josh Heupel discusses defeating Florida, Alabama in back-to-back weeks

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel discusses defeating Florida and Alabama in back-to-back weeks.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) hosted its two biggest rivals in Florida and Alabama the last two weeks at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee defeated the Gators, 23-17 in overtime, during Week 7 and was victorious, 24-17, in Week 8 versus the Crimson Tide.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is now 4-4 against Florida and Alabama as the Vols’ head coach since 2021. He discussed joy of having defeated two of Tennessee’s biggest rivals this season.

“Joy and being on the right side of the scoreboard each Saturday, those are two big games,” Heupel said. “Historically, our fan base, what it means to them, you know what I mean?

“To our players, it’s big games because it’s league games, and understand what it means and the things that you’re trying to go accomplish, and what you have been working for since January. You know, the last two weeks on that field, it’s just really special because of what it took to find a way to be on the right side of the scoreboard. All the ups and downs, just continuing to compete, and I’m proud of the guys for that.”

Josh Heupel has top 15 salary among college football head coaches

USA TODAY releases updated college football salary information for head coaches in 2024.

USA TODAY released updated college football head coaching salaries on Wednesday.

Josh Heupel is in his fourth season as Tennessee’s head coach in 2024. He has a $9,000,000 total pay salary, the 12th highest in college football and eighth most among Southeastern Conference head coaches.

Heupel also has $1,700,000 for a maximum bonus and a $37,500,000 buyout.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart ranks first nationally for total pay ($13,282,580) and total buyout amount ($118,083,333). Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has the second-highest buyout amount among head coaches worth $70,050,000.

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham leads the nation with $5,378,500 in maximum bonuses.

The entire USA TODAY head coaches salary database can be viewed here.

Alabama and DeBoer will play Tennessee and Heupel on Saturday in Week 8 at Neyland Stadium (3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).

Ethan Davis’ progress detailed ahead of Alabama game

Josh Heupel discusses tight end Ethan Davis ahead of the Vols’ Week 8 game versus Alabama.

Redshirt freshman Ethan Davis has appeared in five contests for Tennessee in 2024. The 6-foot-5, 246-pound tight end has recorded seven receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown.

Davis did not play in Tennessee’s loss at Arkansas in Week 6 and saw limited action against Florida in Week 7.

Ahead of Week 8 versus Alabama, fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Davis’ progression this season.

“He is somebody that we plan on using more,” Heupel said. “A couple weeks ago, structural change, Miles (Kitselman) got a majority of it with Holden (Staes). We got a great confidence in him. We’ll continue to play him moving forward.”

Davis appeared in three contests for the Vols as a freshman in 2023, totaling two receptions for 33 yards.