Kentucky
All-SEC Selections Highlight the Biggest Problem Facing the 2025 Kentucky Football Team
There are a myriad of concerns surrounding the Kentucky football program this offseason. A lot of them are in the form of optics. Public relations matters for fans, but they don’t make a significant difference in what you will see on fall Saturdays.
The Kentucky football program was happy to share a bit of positive PR on Friday, although it actually highlights the biggest flaw in the Wildcats’ 2025 roster.
Phil Steele named four Kentucky football players to his preseason All-SEC roster. Punter Aidan Laros was a second-team selection, Josh Braun and Alex Wollschlaeger made the third-team, and Alex Afari made an appearance on the fourth-team.
This is not to diminish what any of those four players can accomplish for Kentucky this fall. After all, it’s just one mustachioed man’s opinion. However, it does highlight what the Cats should be the best at this fall: blocking and punting.
Mark Stoops had a massive roster-building undertaking following a 4-8 season. The Wildcats only have 14 returning scholarship players on offense. They had to almost completely rebuild the offensive line. That comes at a cost.
Kentucky lacks star power at skill positions.
Zach Calzada put up gaudy numbers at the FCS level after recording some big wins at Texas A&M. Dante Dowdell is an exceptional short-yardage back who led the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns. Seth McGowan should provide explosiveness at the position. Ja’Mori Maclin proved he can create big plays as an outside receiver. Outside of that, there aren’t many guys in the wide receiver room you can point to and say, “That guy is going to be a difference-maker in the SEC.”
Mark Stoops built a roster that can run the football. Kentucky can drag teams into the mud. If they take care of pigskin and play clean football, there are opportunities to win in the margins. That’s significantly harder to do without top-tier SEC skill talent. It will be the Wildcats’ greatest challenge in the 2025 season.
More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel
Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.
GRAYSON, Ky. (WSAZ) – New information has been released in the search for a missing woman at Grayson Lake.
According to game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Marly Kinney, 19, of Ashland, was last seen at Grayson Lake on Wednesday afternoon.
They say search efforts are focused on the water at this time and include Kentucky State Police aerial support, drones, boats, and K9 assistance.
Crews suspend search for missing teen for the night
The search is now into its third day, with officials saying on and off rain has hindered their search and that a group of 50 volunteers are walking the banks of the lake to help in the search.
Search and rescue boats have been seen at the lake as well.
Officials say there are still many questions, including if Kinney is still alive and where exactly she went missing.
They also say they’ve been using a variety of equipment, including sonar and thermal detectors, as well as helicopters and underwater drones.
WSAZ received a statement from Kinney’s family Friday afternoon:
“We are very appreciative of the absolute surplus of support from law enforcement, search and rescue, 1st responders, and all of the community and its volunteers that are here with us and for us searching for Marly. We do not even know how to express our absolute gratitude to you all. We continue to have faith she will be found and brought back to us. We know we have the very best people doing all they can to bring her home.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
We are still working to get more information.
Previous coverage can be found here.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and YouTube for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Washington, D.C1 minute agoDC reaches settlement with man detained while protesting troops with Darth Vader song
-
Cleveland, OH3 minutes agoHeinen’s closing downtown Cleveland location
-
Austin, TX8 minutes agoTexas board approves Bible stories as required reading in public schools
-
Alabama11 minutes agoBest downtowns in Alabama? These 10 towns made the list
-
Alaska16 minutes agoLavrov Challenges Rubio: Kremlin Says Trump-Putin Reached Deal as Moscow Questions Washington’s Neutrality
-
Arizona23 minutes agoCentral Arizona is home to the ‘World’s Oldest Rodeo.’ Here’s what to see and do there
-
Arkansas26 minutes agoSanders announces Medicaid work requirement soft launch for Arkansas ARHOME recipients
-
California31 minutes agoNewsom urges a national ‘billionaires’ tax’ while fighting one in California
