Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media on Thursday ahead of the Vols’ Top 20 clash with Kentucky in Knoxville.
The Vols are 7-0 on the season and have an upcoming date with Georgia on the horizon, but will first have to handle business against the Wildcats.
“It’s important that you play well for 60 minutes,” Heupel said on Thursday. “Would we love to get off to a fast start? Yes, absolutely, but you guys have seen games unfold differently, and you just have to keep playing. Would love to start fast, but we will go play ball and play for 60 minutes.”
The Wildcats come into Knoxville with the No. 19 ranking and a 5-2 record on the year. Kentucky has solid wins over Florida and Mississippi State but has also lost to Ole Miss and South Carolina this month.
“He has done a good job of building up the program from the ground up,” Heupel said about Kentucky HC Mark Stoops on Thursday. “They play hard, they play smart and they are a physical football team. You put those three things together, you have a chance to continue as a program, and they have done that.”
Tennessee/Kentucky: Tennessee Football Preview: Vols Host Kentucky in Top 20 Showdown
Tennessee Uniforms: Tennessee Announces Uniforms For Top 20 Matchup Against Kentucky
More from RTI: Jalin Hyatt Outpacing Six SEC Teams in Receiving Touchdowns
Watch Josh Heupel’s full Thursday press conference from Knoxville below: