It certainly wasn't pretty as UT clinched a berth in next weekend's SEC Championship Game Saturday in Lexington.

The Vols hung on in spectacular fashion, defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 52-50 in four overtimes to clinch the SEC East championship.

Tennessee took control of the game early, as Erik Ainge threw to a wide open Arian Foster for a 65-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Ainge would finish the first half with nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns.

By halftime, the Vols had extended their lead to 24-7 and UT appeared to be well on it's way to securing their trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.

Kentucky had other things in mind as the Wildcats set out on an 80-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown from Andre Woodson to Dicky Lyons to open the second half.

From that point on, the momentum favored the Wildcats. Kentucky outscored the Vols 24-7 in the second half, matching the Vols performance in the opening two quarters.

Kentucky had the Vols on the ropes at the end of regulation with the ball on Tennessee's 2-yard line and eight seconds left, but the Wildcats settled for a field goal to send the game to overtime.

The Wildcats again appeared to have the Vols on the ropes in the second overtime after intercepting Ainge near the goal line. The 'Cats needed only a field goal to break the Vols' 22-game winnning streak but were denied as Dan Williams came up with a must-have field goal block.

The marathon contest finally ended when Andre Woodson was stuffed on a two-point conversion attempt that would have sent the game to a 5th overtime.

The win extends Tennessee's NCAA best 23-game win streak over a single opponent.

Kentucky's Woodson and UT's Ainge combined for 828 yards through the air and 13 touchdowns.

Tennessee plays LSU in Atlanta with the SEC Title on the line at 4 p.m. next Saturday on CBS.