Kentucky and Tennessee both come into Saturday’s showdown with a little extra breathing room after bye weeks, and the latest SEC Availability Report suggests the time off helped. The report was updated ahead of the No.
6 Wildcats’ meeting with No. 13 Tennessee, and there wasn’t much movement from Wednesday night.
For Kentucky, the only change was a positive one: Isaiah McMillian was upgraded to probable. The Wildcats still list CB Grant Grayton, LB Justyn Hartley, LB Antwan Smith, and nickel Jaden Smith as out. McMillian is now probable, and EDGE Sam Greene is also listed as probable.
There’s good news on a few other fronts for Kentucky, too. Greene and Nic Anderson were both inactive in Week 9, but each is trending toward a return against Tennessee.
CJ Baxter and Malachi Wood, who left the Vanderbilt game with injuries, are also set to come back. The four players listed as out are all dealing with long-term injuries.
Kentucky could still be thin at corner, though, after McMillian was hurt late against Vanderbilt, and the Wildcats are already without CB4 because of Grayton’s absence.
Tennessee’s report is more straightforward, but no less significant. The Vols list TE Ethan Davis, WR Joakim Dodson, LB Jaedon Harmon, S Edrees Farooq, S Dylan Lewis, and G Wendell Moe Jr. as out. Tennessee is also dealing with multiple long-term injuries, and starters Ethan Davis, Edrees Farooq, and Wendell Moe Jr. have already been lost for the season.
Players on SEC availability reports are designated as out, doubtful, questionable, or probable, with final updates due an hour before kickoff on Saturdays.
In Other News...
Kentucky Gets One More Clue About Mark Pope Before Bigger Tests
Preston Spradlins return to Lexington adds a little extra texture to a game Kentucky is expected to handle comfortably. The former Wildcats assistant now leads James Madison, a program that has established itself as one of the stronger teams in the Sun Belt, so this is not just a nostalgia visit for an old staff hand. It is also another early look at how Mark Popes group is settling in before the schedule gets tougher.
Pope has already made one notable roster decision by ending recruiting efforts with two five-star prospects after adding a new center, a sign the front office is focused on the pieces already in place. For Kentucky, the bigger picture is less about one December-like matchup and more about how the coach balances evaluation, development and the realities of a roster that may be largely set. Games like this can still offer a useful read, even if the betting line suggests the Wildcats should be in control. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Heard Is Giving Kentucky Fans One More Reason To Watch Tennessee
Lance Heard has given Kentucky fans a fresh reason to keep an eye on Tennessee, even with the rivalry game still ahead. The Wildcats offensive lineman was named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2026 Lombardi Award and is also on the Outland Trophy watch list, recognition that reflects just how steady he has been this season.
Heard has logged 461 snaps and drawn praise for both his performance and the way he has carried himself inside the program. Coach Will Stein has singled out Heards leadership and overall impact heading into Kentuckys matchup with Tennessee, adding another layer to a game that already carries plenty of weight for the Wildcats. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Pope Just Hit A Kentucky Recruiting Nerve Early
Kentuckys 2027 recruiting board already has a striking name on it in Cherif Millogo, the 7-foot-5 prospect from Burkina Faso who is playing high school basketball in California and has already committed to the Wildcats. ESPN has him ranked No. 8 in the class, and he joins Ryan Hampton, who is also pledged to Kentucky and sits at No. 31, giving the program an early foundation in a cycle that could shape how the roster looks down the line.
The bigger conversation around a commitment like Millogos is what it says about the kind of talent Kentucky is chasing and how that fits into the broader recruiting history of the program under John Calipari and now his successor, Mark Pope. Top-10 recruits are always a headline, but they are rarely the kind of freshmen who immediately carry a team to a national title, which is why Kentuckys latest move feels less like a finished product and more like the start of a much larger roster puzzle. [Read more 🡒]