Kentucky Falls to No. 13 After Tennessee Loss
The Wildcats dropped six spots in the US LBM Football Coaches Poll after a 34-6 defeat at Tennessee.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
Kentucky football fell from No. 7 to No. 13 in the US LBM Football Coaches Poll released Nov. 8. The drop followed a 34-6 loss at Tennessee that snapped the Wildcats' six-game win streak.
Why it matters
The ranking drop comes as Kentucky, now 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, remains in contention in a crowded conference race. The 28-point loss also leaves the Wildcats tied for second in the SEC standings.
The US LBM Football Coaches Poll moved Kentucky from No. 7 to No. 13 after a 34-6 loss at Tennessee, a 28-point margin that ended a six-game win streak. Kentucky was ranked eighth in the Associated Press Top 25 before the defeat, and the AP poll's update was still pending.
The players
Kentucky Wildcats
The University of Kentucky's football program, which competes in the Southeastern Conference and plays its home games at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The details
Kentucky lost 34-6 at Tennessee, its first defeat since a six-game win streak began. The US LBM Football Coaches Poll released its newest rankings on Nov. 8, one day after the game, dropping the Wildcats six spots.
Timeline
Sept. 12: Alabama defeated Kentucky 45-17 in Lexington.
Nov. 7: Kentucky lost 34-6 at Tennessee.
Nov. 8: The US LBM Football Coaches Poll released with Kentucky ranked No. 13.
Nov. 14, 6:15 p.m.: Kentucky hosts Florida at Kroger Field.
Season Trajectory
Kentucky's drop to No. 13 in the US LBM Football Coaches Poll reflects how a single conference loss can reshape a team's standing in a season ranking system. The Wildcats remain tied for second in the SEC, keeping them in the conference race despite the setback.
Fantasy and bracket watchers tracking Kentucky should note the team's SEC tie for second and the head-to-head tiebreaker with Alabama, which would favor Alabama. The Florida game on Nov. 14 is the next scheduled test for the Wildcats' conference position.
The takeaway
A single road loss can drop a ranked team quickly, but Kentucky's tie for second in the SEC keeps its conference position intact heading into the Florida game. Readers following the race should watch both the weekly polls and the head-to-head results that will decide tiebreakers.
What happens next
Kentucky hosts Florida at Kroger Field on Nov. 14 at 6:15 p.m., with the Associated Press poll also due later on Nov. 8.
Further reading
Track the team's full season in Kentucky Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Courier-Journal.
