# SEC Morning Report: Kentucky's Tavion Gadson Earns National Acclaim, Bulldogs Upset Vols on the Hardwood **Published:** 2026-01-30 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield **Category:** daily-roundup — **Type:** daily-roundup **Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-report-kentucky-tavion-gadson-bulldogs-upset-vols --- ### Kentucky DT Tavion Gadson Lands on Top-100 Players List Kentucky defensive tackle Tavion Gadson is gaining national recognition ahead of the 2026 season, landing at No. 79 on the On3 Sports' "Way-too-early Top 100" list. The acknowledgment is a significant nod for the Georgia native, who has become a cornerstone of the Wildcats' defensive front. Gadson's inclusion is a testament to his perseverance and production. After a 2024 knee injury, he mounted an impressive return last season, earning a spot on the Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list. In 2025, he was a crucial bright spot for a Kentucky team that finished 5-7, recording 28 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. His decision to return to Lexington was a major offseason victory for the Kentucky program, solidifying a key piece on the defensive line. ### QUICK HITS * **Mississippi State Stuns No. 15 Tennessee:** The Mississippi State Bulldogs handed No. 15 Tennessee its first conference loss of the season, securing a 77-62 upset in Knoxville. The victory snapped the Lady Vols' seven-game winning streak and eight-game home winning streak. Kharyssa Richardson powered the Bulldogs with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. * **No. 24 Alabama Wins Ranked Road Matchup:** In a battle of ranked opponents, the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide went into Athens and defeated the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs, 68-53. Alabama overcame an eight-point first-quarter deficit, dominating the final three quarters 56-33. Essence Cody led the Crimson Tide with 16 points. * **No. 10 Oklahoma Routs Texas A&M:** The Aggies struggled on the road, falling 85-58 to the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners in Norman. Payton Verhulst and Aaliyah Chavez led the offensive charge for Oklahoma, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively. * **Florida Falls to No. 4 Texas:** Despite a combined 50 points from Liv McGill, Me'Arah O'Neal, and Laila Reynolds, the Florida Gators could not overcome the No. 4 Texas Longhorns, losing 88-68. Texas dominated inside, enjoying a 60-30 advantage in points in the paint. * **Vols Tennis Sweeps Doubleheader:** The Tennessee men's tennis team had a successful Thursday, sweeping a doubleheader against Bellarmine and EKU at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. ### PORTAL WATCH It was a quiet day in the transfer portal, with one notable commitment. Kicker **Jalen Ballard**, formerly of Jackson State, announced his commitment to the Ole Miss Rebels. Ballard earned first-team All-MACCC honors at Holmes Community College in 2023. ### RECRUITING BUZZ There were no new recruiting commitments across the Southeastern Conference in the last 12 hours. ### GAMES TO WATCH After a busy Thursday in women's basketball, the SEC schedule is lighter on Friday. The headline matchup features the No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball team facing the No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores in a neutral site game in Birmingham, Alabama. There are no conference games on the SEC men's basketball schedule for Friday, January 30. --- *Original article: [SEC Morning Report: Kentucky's Tavion Gadson Earns National Acclaim, Bulldogs Upset Vols on the Hardwood](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-report-kentucky-tavion-gadson-bulldogs-upset-vols) — SEC Scouts*