Kentucky–Tennessee rivalry
| Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry | |
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| Teams | Tennessee Volunteers Kentucky Wildcats |
| Originated | 1893 |
| Series | Tennessee Leads Series 75-24-9 |
| Largest Victory | Kentucky 56, Tennessee 0 October 21, 1893 |
| Highest Scoring Game | Tennessee 52, Kentucky 50 (5 OT) November 24, 2007 |
| Most Recent Game | Tennessee 37, Kentucky 17 November 24, 2012 |
| Longest Win Streak | Tennessee 26 |
| Current Win Streak | Tennessee 1 |
The Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Kentucky Wildcats football team of the University of Kentucky and Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee. The teams once played for a giant beer barrel trophy that was discontinued after the 1998 game following the death of a Kentucky player in a car crash that involved alcohol. The game was originally called the "Battle for the Beer Barrel." [1]
Series history
Tennessee and Kentucky have faced off on the gridiron since 1893, making it one of the oldest rivalries in major college football. It was close in the early years, with Kentucky holding a series lead after the first 22 match-ups. But since the early 1930s, Tennessee has dominated the cross-border rivalry.
Both schools were charter members of the Southeastern Conference when it was established in 1932. Since that season, Tennessee has a 53-14-3 record against Kentucky, including a streak of 26 straight victories from 1985 to 2010, which is one of the longest such streaks in NCAA history. The Wildcats did not win any football games against the Volunteers during the 1940s, the 1990s, or the 2000s. The only decade of the SEC era in which UK posted a winning record against Tennessee was the 1950s, when they went 6-3-1. The series was not without disappointment even during that period, however, as the Vols dealt Bear Bryant's 1950 Wildcat squad their only defeat during their school-best 11-1 season.
The Barrel
Like many college football rivalries, the Kentucky–Tennessee game had its own trophy for many years: a wooden beer barrel painted half blue and half orange. The trophy was awarded to the winner of the game every year from 1925 to 1997. The Barrel was introduced in 1925 by a group of former Kentucky students who wanted to create a material sign of supremacy for the rivalry. It was rolled onto the field that year with the words "Ice Water" painted on it to avoid any outcries over an alcohol drum symbolizing a college rivalry during the Prohibition era.
Shenanigans
The trophy was awarded to the game's winner each year, but those weren't the only times the trophy traveled the 170 miles between the two schools. Tennessee lost the game in 1953, but several orange-clad students "keg-napped" the barrel and kept it hidden in Knoxville until UK students retaliated by "dog-napping" Smokey. The barrel theft set in motion additional pranks over the next few years, but the barrel was never again involved.
Vanderbilt students stole the keg in 1960 seeking support from UT students in an upcoming basketball game with Kentucky. Commodore students returned the trophy months later without their win over the Wildcats.
The End of The Barrel
An alcohol-related car crash involving two UK football players in 1998 prompted the end of the barrel exchange. Kentucky athletic director C. M. Newton expressed the idea that the ongoing use of an alcohol container as a trophy would inappropriate under the circumstances. The ceremony was cancelled for the 1998 season and the two schools mutually agreed to permanently discontinue the tradition before the 1999 game.[2]
The actual barrel was in Tennessee's possession when the tradition was discontinued and has not been publicly displayed since and was not transferred to Kentucky when the Wildcats broke the Volunteers' winning streak in the series in 2011.[3]
Game results
Kentucky victories are colored ██ blue. Tennessee victories are colored ██ orange. Ties are white.
| Year | Tennessee | Kentucky | Location | Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 56 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 0-1 |
| 1899 | Tennessee | 12 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | - | 1-1 |
| 1901 | Tennessee | 5 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 2-1 |
| 1906 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 21 | Lexington, Kentucky | - | 2-2 |
| 1907 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | - | 2-2-1 |
| 1908 | Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 3-2-1 |
| 1909 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 17 | Lexington, Kentucky | - | 3-3-1 |
| 1910 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 10 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 3-4-1 |
| 1911 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 12 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 3-5-1 |
| 1912 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 13 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 3-6-1 |
| 1913 | Tennessee | 13 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 4-6-1 |
| 1914 | Tennessee | 23 | Kentucky | 6 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 5-6-1 |
| 1915 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 6 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 5-7-1 |
| 1916 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 5-7-2 |
| 1919 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 13 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 5-8-2 |
| 1920 | Tennessee | 14 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 6-8-2 |
| 1921 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 6-8-3 |
| 1922 | Tennessee | 14 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 7-8-3 |
| 1923 | Tennessee | 18 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | - | 8-8-3 |
| 1924 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 27 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 8-9-3 |
| 1925 | Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 23 | Lexington, Kentucky | UK | 8-10-3 |
| 1926 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UK | 9-10-3 |
| 1927 | Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | - | 10-10-3 |
| 1928 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | - | 10-10-4 |
| 1929 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 6 | Lexington, Kentucky | - | 10-10-5 |
| 1930 | Tennessee | 8 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 11-10-5 |
| 1931 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 6 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 11-10-6 |
| 1932 | Tennessee | 26 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 12-10-6 |
| 1933 | Tennessee | 27 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 13-10-6 |
| 1934 | Tennessee | 19 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 14-10-6 |
| 1935 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 27 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 14-11-6 |
| 1936 | #17 Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 6 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 15-11-6 |
| 1937 | Tennessee | 13 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 16-11-6 |
| 1938 | #4 Tennessee | 46 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 17-11-6 |
| 1939 | #4 Tennessee | 19 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 18-11-6 |
| 1940 | #6 Tennessee | 33 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 19-11-6 |
| 1941 | Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 20-11-6 |
| 1942 | #11 Tennessee | 26 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 21-11-6 |
| 1944 (1) | Tennessee | 26 | Kentucky | 13 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 22-11-6 |
| 1944 (2) | #15 Tennessee | 21 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 23-11-6 |
| 1945 | #14 Tennessee | 14 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 24-11-6 |
| 1946 | #7 Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 25-11-6 |
| 1947 | Tennessee | 13 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 26-11-6 |
| 1948 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 26-11-7 |
| 1949 | Tennessee | 6 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 27-11-7 |
| 1950 | #9 Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 28-11-7 |
| 1951 | #1 Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 29-11-7 |
| 1952 | #7 Tennessee | 14 | Kentucky | 14 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 29-11-8 |
| 1953 | #18 Tennessee | 21 | #13 Kentucky | 27 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 29-12-8 |
| 1954 | #17 Tennessee | 13 | Kentucky | 14 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 29-13-8 |
| 1955 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 23 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 29-14-8 |
| 1956 | #2 Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 30-14-8 |
| 1957 | #17 Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 20 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 30-15-8 |
| 1958 | Tennessee | 2 | Kentucky | 6 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 30-16-8 |
| 1959 | #20 Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 20 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 30-17-8 |
| 1960 | Tennessee | 10 | Kentucky | 10 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 30-17-9 |
| 1961 | Tennessee | 26 | Kentucky | 16 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 31-17-9 |
| 1962 | Tennessee | 10 | Kentucky | 12 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 31-18-9 |
| 1963 | Tennessee | 19 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 32-18-9 |
| 1964 | Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 12 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 32-19-9 |
| 1965 | Tennessee | 19 | Kentucky | 3 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 33-19-9 |
| 1966 | Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 19 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 34-19-9 |
| 1967 | #2 Tennessee | 17 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 35-19-9 |
| 1968 | #8 Tennessee | 24 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 36-19-9 |
| 1969 | #9 Tennessee | 31 | Kentucky | 26 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 37-19-9 |
| 1970 | #8 Tennessee | 45 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 38-19-9 |
| 1971 | #11 Tennessee | 21 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 39-19-9 |
| 1972 | #12 Tennessee | 17 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 40-19-9 |
| 1973 | Tennessee | 16 | Kentucky | 14 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 41-19-9 |
| 1974 | Tennessee | 24 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 42-19-9 |
| 1975 | Tennessee | 17 | Kentucky | 13 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 43-19-9 |
| 1976 | Tennessee | 0 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 43-20-9 |
| 1977 | Tennessee | 17 | #7 Kentucky | 21 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 43-21-9 |
| 1978 | Tennessee | 29 | Kentucky | 14 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 44-21-9 |
| 1979 | Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 17 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 45-21-9 |
| 1980 | Tennessee | 45 | Kentucky | 14 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 46-21-9 |
| 1981 | Tennessee | 10 | Kentucky | 21 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 46-22-9 |
| 1982 | Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 7 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 47-22-9 |
| 1983 | Tennessee | 10 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 48-22-9 |
| 1984 | Tennessee | 12 | Kentucky | 17 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 48-23-9 |
| 1985 | #16 Tennessee | 42 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 49-23-9 |
| 1986 | Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 9 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 50-23-9 |
| 1987 | #15 Tennessee | 24 | Kentucky | 22 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 51-23-9 |
| 1988 | Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 24 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 52-23-9 |
| 1989 | #8 Tennessee | 31 | Kentucky | 10 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 53-23-9 |
| 1990 | #14 Tennessee | 42 | Kentucky | 28 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 54-23-9 |
| 1991 | #10 Tennessee | 16 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 55-23-9 |
| 1992 | #20 Tennessee | 34 | Kentucky | 13 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 56-23-9 |
| 1993 | #7 Tennessee | 48 | Kentucky | 0 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 57-23-9 |
| 1994 | Tennessee | 52 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 58-23-9 |
| 1995 | #4 Tennessee | 34 | Kentucky | 31 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 59-23-9 |
| 1996 | #9 Tennessee | 56 | Kentucky | 10 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 60-23-9 |
| 1997 | #5 Tennessee | 59 | Kentucky | 31 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 61-23-9 |
| 1998 | #1 Tennessee | 59 | Kentucky | 21 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 62-23-9 |
| 1999 | #7 Tennessee | 56 | Kentucky | 21 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 63-23-9 |
| 2000 | Tennessee | 59 | Kentucky | 20 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 64-23-9 |
| 2001 | #6 Tennessee | 38 | Kentucky | 35 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 65-23-9 |
| 2002 | Tennessee | 24 | Kentucky | 0 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 66-23-9 |
| 2003 | #7 Tennessee | 20 | Kentucky | 7 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 67-23-9 |
| 2004 | #15 Tennessee | 37 | Kentucky | 31 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 68-23-9 |
| 2005 | Tennessee | 27 | Kentucky | 8 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 69-23-9 |
| 2006 | #21 Tennessee | 17 | Kentucky | 12 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 70-23-9 |
| 2007 | #19 Tennessee | 52 | Kentucky | 50 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 71-23-9 |
| 2008 | Tennessee | 28 | Kentucky | 10 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 72-23-9 |
| 2009 | Tennessee | 30 | Kentucky | 24 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 73-23-9 |
| 2010 | Tennessee | 24 | Kentucky | 14 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 74-23-9 |
| 2011 | Tennessee | 7 | Kentucky | 10 | Lexington, Kentucky | UT | 74-24-9 |
| 2012 | Tennessee | 37 | Kentucky | 17 | Knoxville, Tennessee | UT | 75-24-9 |