Tennessee vs. Kentucky 2017 live stream: Time, TV channel, and how to watch online

If Butch Jones doesn’t beat the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, his days of coaching the Tennessee Volunteers could be numbered. The quotable head coach, more famous for his recruiting skill, and ability to win and promptly lose the “championship of life,” is 3-4 in his fifth season as the Volunteers head coach. He could be steering directly into a fourth straight defeat when Tennessee takes on the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network (live stream).

Jones’ Vols haven’t just been bad, they’ve been borderline unwatchable. Tennessee has scored just 16 total points in its last three games. The team hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in 14 quarters.

Kentucky, on the other hand, is reeling after a 45-7 beatdown at the hands of Mississippi State. The Wildcats’ hot start was extinguished in Starkville, but the 5-2 program will have the chance to become bowl eligible for the second straight season by knocking off the Volunteers at home.

Tennessee is in the midst of a miserable season. The Vols are 3-4 entering Week 9, the latest loss a drubbing by No. 1 Alabama last weekend.

Losing to the Tide was expected and likely didn’t change much about head coach Butch Jones’ job status. Losing any more games in 2017 definitely will.

Every major program has outsized expectations, but between programs of similar resources, Nebraska’s seem much more realistic. Pick a place where a good job will be recognized as such. Pick Nebraska.

There weren’t many big moves, but one notable development as Matt Elam now being listed as the third-string nose tackle. Elam made his first start of the season Saturday at Mississippi State, but after the Bulldogs bludgeoned UK for over 200 yards on the ground, he dropped behind freshman Quinton Bohanna on the newest depth chart.

The silver lining for Tennessee is that its embattled defense should shut down an offense that looks solid on paper but fails to hold up to scrutiny. The Wildcats are scoring 24.6 points per game with an inefficient offense that has utilized an unreliable source of big plays to move the ball. With a running attack that offers just 3.7 yards per carry, the Volunteers should be able to grind down the Kentucky offense if they can prevent the home runs that have taken UK from its own territory and into the end zone.

The Volunteers score an offensive touchdown! Unfortunately, it’s not enough as Jones begins packing up his office as soon as he returns home from Saturday night’s loss.