Kentucky fans had a message for Tennessee. They painted it on the Vols’ Rock

Kentucky football is a surprise SEC leader heading into Week 10. And Wildcats are feeling themselves.

Ahead of today’s game against Tennessee in Knoxville, some UK fans — under the cover of darkness — planted their flag by painting the Vols’ famed Rock blue with Kentucky’s logo and “Stein Time” painted on one side, and “#BBN Big Blue Rock” on the other side.

Per Tennessee’s website: “An iconic UT landmark for more than 50 years, the Rock is a place of free expression on campus, a public canvas where thousands of artists have expressed themselves. Unearthed in 1966, the Rock has been a fixture of campus life ever since, and painting the Rock has become a treasured campus tradition.“

Shout out to these heroes who just got finished painting The Rock at The University of Tennessee. It now reads “Stein Time” on one side and “Big Blue Rock” on the other. pic.twitter.com/WgX39Po3lx

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— Rare Rookies (@rarerookies) November 7, 2026

The Rock was quickly painted over, but you can still see the blue paint on the ground via the university’s live cam. Bold move. The Wildcats are 7-1 in Will Stein’s first season as coach and controls its path to a place they have never been: the SEC championship game.

LOL https://t.co/VXxVO4lPBPpic.twitter.com/Dvw03MATBt

— Biz Markie Post (@barry_lutz) November 7, 2026

Saturday’s game has huge stakes. Kentucky landed at No. 6 in the first CFP rankings, while the Vols landed at No. 13, controversially eight spots lower than Alabama — a team it beat by 16 points.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky fans had a message for Tennessee. They painted it on the Vols’ Rock