Vanderbilt at Kentucky AP 12C 12
Vanderbilt at Kentucky kicks off Saturday, Oct 24 at 7:30 PM EDT on SEC Network. Kentucky is favored by 10.5. The Gotta See It Meter calls it a good game, worth your time: 34 of 100 (Ready to Rumble), mostly on power-conference matchup and how good both teams are.
- Date
- Saturday, Oct 24, 2026
- Kickoff
- TV
- SEC Network · Cable · ESPN app
- Venue
- Kroger Field
- City
- Lexington, KY
- Week
- Week 8
- Conference game
- Yes
- Line
- Kentucky −10.5 · O/U 51.5
- Forecast
- 63°F · wind 4 mph · 0% precipitation
Ready to Rumble
Vanderbilt3–4
Wvs Austin Peay28–9
Wvs Delaware35–26
Wvs NC State35–31
Lat Auburn15–21
Lat Georgia14–38
Lvs Ole Miss17–52
Lvs Arkansas21–31
at Kentucky
Nothing since.
Kentucky6–1
Wvs Youngstown State45–13
Lvs Alabama17–45
Wat Texas A&M31–21
Wvs S. Alabama45–21
Wat S. Carolina35–34
Wvs LSU35–34
Wat Oklahoma21–13
vs Vanderbilt
Nothing since.
What to expect
These two combine for 56.3 points a game and Vanderbilt plays fast — 65.6 snaps a game, 85th nationally. Vegas set the total at 51.5. The last 5 meetings have averaged a 14.4-point margin.
Blowout riskMaybe
PaceSnailBoth Snail
SeriesSplit Decisionavg margin 14.4 over 5 meetings
The matchup
season averages · national rank in FBS below each · the fuller bar leads · through Week 7
| Vanderbilt | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 23.6100th | 32.746th | |
| Points allowed | 29.7115th | 25.992nd | |
| Yards per play | 5.4100th | 5.958th | |
| Yards allowed per play | 5.587th | 5.258th | |
| Plays per game | 65.685th | 65.488th | |
| Turnover margin | -5121st | +113rd | |
| 3rd down conversion | 38.5%83rd | 29.1%136th |
More stats +11
| Vanderbilt | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing yards per game | 119.3118th | 166.156th | |
| Passing yards per game | 235.164th | 221.778th | |
| QB completion rate | 60.4%97th | 67.8%26th | |
| QB yards per attempt | 7.668th | 7.574th | |
| O-line rank | 81stline yards · sack rate | 63rdline yards · sack rate | |
| D-line rank | 103rdstuff rate · havoc | 54thstuff rate · havoc | |
| Sacks | 1541st | 1817th | |
| Interceptions | 550th | 112nd | |
| Forced fumbles | 288th | 517th | |
| Penalties per game | 8.7127th | 4.714th | |
| Time of possession | 30:3054th | 29:4777th |
The series
Vanderbilt leads 3–2 over the last 5
| Year | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Vanderbilt 45–17 | 28 |
| 2024 | Vanderbilt 20–13 | 7 |
| 2023 | Kentucky 45–28 | 17 |
| 2022 | Vanderbilt 24–21 | 3 |
| 2021 | Kentucky 34–17 | 17 |
How to watch
| Network | SEC Network |
|---|---|
| Stream | Cable · ESPN app |
| Kickoff | 7:30 PM EDT |
| Where | Kroger Field, Lexington, KY |
What the Meter sees
| Power-conference matchupTwo of the big four on the same field — the bump, plus the floor every power-conference team carries | +14.0 |
|---|---|
| How good both teams are (unranked vs #12)Both teams' poll votes, with a smaller bonus for the one ranked side | +10.8 |
| Conference gameLeague standings are on the line | +5.0 |
| Vegas says it's closeClosing spread of 10.5 — the tighter the number, the bigger the bump | +2.0 |
| Where it's onSEC Network — a network puts its best games where everyone can find them | +2.0 |
| Gotta See It Meter™ | 34 |
Still Ball0–5Worth a Flip6–17I'll Bite18–33Ready to Rumble34–59Thunderdome60–99Maximum100
Quick answers
- What time does Vanderbilt vs Kentucky start?
- Saturday, Oct 24 at 7:30 PM EDT.
- What channel is Vanderbilt vs Kentucky on?
- SEC Network.
- How can I stream Vanderbilt vs Kentucky?
- Streaming on ESPN app.
- Who is favored in Vanderbilt vs Kentucky?
- Kentucky by 10.5. The total is 51.5.
- Where is Vanderbilt vs Kentucky played?
- Kroger Field in Lexington, KY.