There are few SEC rivalries as heated—and unpredictable—as Kentucky vs. Tennessee. And this weekend, the battle shifts to the baseball diamond with a pivotal series in Knoxville that could swing postseason momentum in a major way.
The No. 2-ranked Volunteers (32-5, 11-4 SEC) enter the weekend as heavy favorites, but don't count out the Wildcats (20-14, 6-9 SEC), who are looking to pull off a statement series win in enemy territory. When these two teams meet, records often go out the window.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Tennessee baseball this weekend
All three games will be broadcast via ESPN+, available either as a standalone subscription or through your cable provider (via SEC Network+). If you’re unsure whether you have access, contact your cable provider or consider bundling ESPN+ with Hulu or Disney+.
Game Schedule (All times ET):
Friday, April 18 – 6:30 PM ET
Saturday, April 19 – 6:00 PM ET
Sunday, April 20 – 1:00 PM ET
Links for Watch and Listen options are available on UKAthletics.com or through the ESPN app.
SEC baseball standings snapshot
Kentucky sits in the middle tier of a brutal SEC pack, currently tied at 6-9 in conference play. A road series win over the second-ranked Vols would go a long way toward improving postseason positioning.
SEC Baseball Standings (as of April 17):
Texas – 13-2 SEC, 30-5 overall
Arkansas – 12-3 SEC, 33-5 overall
Tennessee – 11-4 SEC, 32-5 overall
Georgia – 10-5 SEC, 33-6 overall
LSU – 10-5 SEC, 32-6 overall
Auburn – 9-6 SEC, 27-10 overall
Ole Miss – 9-7 SEC, 27-11 overall
Alabama – 8-7 SEC, 30-8 overall
Vanderbilt – 8-7 SEC, 27-10 overall
Oklahoma – 7-8 SEC, 26-10 overall
Kentucky – 6-9 SEC, 20-14 overall
Texas A&M – 6-9 SEC, 21-15 overall
Mississippi State – 5-10 SEC, 23-14 overall
Florida – 4-11 SEC, 25-14 overall
South Carolina – 3-13 SEC, 22-17 overall
Missouri – 0-15 SEC, 13-23 overall
What’s at stake for the Cats
Kentucky has struggled to find consistency in conference play but showed signs of life last weekend. With postseason hopes still alive, a series win, or even a game, against a top-5 opponent like Tennessee would be massive.
More than standings, though, this series taps into the pride and passion of a bitter SEC rivalry. Expect intense atmospheres, plenty of emotion, and high-stakes baseball all weekend long.
Final word: Anything can happen in a rivalry
Tennessee has the ranking. Kentucky has the chip on its shoulder. But as history has shown, rivalry series don’t always follow the script. All it takes is a hot bat, a clutch bullpen, or one spark to flip momentum. If Kentucky can find that spark in Knoxville, the SEC standings—and the postseason picture—could look very different come Monday.