:Kentucky–Vanderbilt football rivalry

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| wide = yes

| name = Kentucky–Vanderbilt football rivalry

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| team1 = Kentucky Wildcats

| team1logo = Kentucky Wildcats logo.svg

| team2 = Vanderbilt Commodores

| team2logo = Vanderbilt_Athletics_logo.svg

| sport =

| firstmeeting = October 10, 1896
Vanderbilt, 6–0

| mostrecent = October 12, 2024
Vanderbilt, 20–13

| nextmeeting = November 22, 2025

| total = 97

| series = Kentucky, 48–44–4

| largestvictory = Kentucky, 53–2 (1978)

| longeststreak = Vanderbilt, 9 (1896–1918)

| longestunbeatenstreak =

| currentstreak = Vanderbilt, 1 (2024–present)

| currentunbeatenstreak =

| trophy =

| trophy series =

| stadiums =

}}

{{OSM Location map

| nolabels = 1

| coord = {{coord|37.196|-85.6512}}

| zoom = 6

| width = 295

| height = 250

| caption = Locations of Kentucky and Vanderbilt

| mark1 = Blue pog.svg

| label1 = Kentucky

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|38.033333|-84.5}}

| label-pos1 = top

| label-color1 = black

| mark2 = Gold pog.svg

| label2 = Vanderbilt

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|36.148|-86.80}}

| label-pos2 = top

| label-color2 = black

}}

The Kentucky–Vanderbilt football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Kentucky Wildcats football team of the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt Commodores football team of Vanderbilt University.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} The rivalry between these two schools, located about {{convert|181|mi|km}} apart, dates to their first meeting in 1896. They are founding members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and were both members of the SEC's Eastern Division with a total of 97 meetings. This rivalry is Kentucky's second longest behind Tennessee and Vanderbilt's third behind Ole Miss and Tennessee. Kentucky leads the series 48–44–4.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/kentucky/opponents_records.php?teamid=3363 Kentucky vs Vanderbilt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720155804/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/kentucky/opponents_records.php?teamid=3363 |date=July 20, 2014 }}. Retrieved July 15, 2014.

41 of the 97 games have been decided by 7 points or less. Kentucky has shut out Vanderbilt 6 times, while Vanderbilt has shut out Kentucky 15 times, 10 of which were from 1896 to 1920. The rivalry is one of the most evenly matched in the SEC.

History

=First game (1896)=

The first game between Vanderbilt and Kentucky (then known as Kentucky State) was played in Nashville on October 10, 1896. Vanderbilt won the first game, 6–0, with Vanderbilt's captain and fullback, Connel, making a touchdown and kicking the goal after touchdown.{{cite news|title=Vanderbilt Beats Kentucky in a Close Game|newspaper=Chattanooga Daily Times|date=October 11, 1896|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53817724/vanderbilt-beats-kentucky-in-a-close/|via=Newspapers.com}}

=Early dominance by Vanderbilt=

Vanderbilt dominated the series in the early years of competition. Between 1896 and 1938, the programs played 17 games. Vanderbilt won 16 of those games, the only exception being a scoreless tie in 1919.{{cite news|title=State Holds Commodores To Scoreless Tie in Mud|newspaper=The Courier Journal|date=November 2, 1919|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53820976/state-holds-commodores/|via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1916, the dedication for Stoll Field was celebrated during the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game.{{cite news|title=Glories of Old U. of K. Recited|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=October 15, 1916|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53820060/glories-of-old-u-of-k-recited/|via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1921, after being shut out by Vanderbilt in 11 consecutive games, Kentucky scored two touchdowns but lost by a 21–14 score.{{cite news|title=Vanderbilt Wins Game From Kentucky Eleven After Fierce Battle|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=October 16, 1921|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53820754/vanderbilt-wins-game/|via=Newspapers.com}}

=Kentucky's first victory (1939)=

On October 7, 1939, Kentucky won its first game in the series, defeating Vanderbilt by a 21–13 score before a crowd of 10,000 in Nashville.{{cite news|title=Kentucky Downs Vanderbilt Rival|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 8, 1939|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53816318/kentucky-downs-vanderbilt-rival/|via=Newspapers.com}} The Wildcats were led by the passing and running of sophomore Ermal Allen. Kentucky quarterback Joe Shepherd also intercepted a Vanderbilt pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.{{cite news|title=Kentucky Conquers Vanderbilt By 21–13|newspaper=The Messenger (Owensboro, Kentucky)|author=Kenneth Gregory|date=October 8, 1939|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47974244/kentucky-conquers-vanderbilt-by-21-13/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Game results

Series record sources: College Football Data Warehouse.

{{Sports rivalry series table

| series_summary = yes | cols = 2

| format = compact

| team1 = Kentucky

| team1style = {{NCAA color cell|Kentucky Wildcats}}

| team2 = Vanderbilt

| team2style = {{NCAA color cell|Vanderbilt Commodores}}

| November 1, 1919 | Lexington, KY | Tie | 0 | Tie | 0

| October 12, 1940 | Nashville, TN | Tie | 7 | Tie | 7

| November 8, 1958 | Lexington, KY | Tie | 0 | Tie | 0

| November 9, 1963 | Nashville, TN | Tie | 0 | Tie | 0

| footnote = {{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/kentucky/vs/vanderbilt|title=Winsipedia – Kentucky Wildcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

| note = *Kentucky vacated all 2021 wins in August 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/kentucky-will-vacate-wins-as-ncaa-investigation-finds-football-players-received-impermissible-benefits/ | title=Kentucky will vacate wins as NCAA investigation finds football players received 'impermissible benefits' | date=August 2, 2024 }}

}}

== See also ==

List of NCAA college football rivalry games

References

Category:College football rivalries in the United States

Category:Kentucky Wildcats football

Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football