LEXINGTON — Story lines abound for Kentucky football heading into Saturday’s 2024 opener against Southern Miss.

Brock Vandagriff, a transfer from Georgia, will make his first-ever start as a collegian after winning the Wildcats’ starting quarterback job. Bush Hamdan is in Game 1 as UK’s offensive coordinator. And Kentucky coach Mark Stoops acknowledged earlier this week he hasn’t forgotten the last time Southern Miss came to town: The Golden Eagles rallied from a 25-point deficit to hand the Wildcats a 44-35 loss in the 2016 opener.

Watch Kentucky football vs Southern Miss live on Fubo (free trial)

Despite all the focus on the UK offense with Hamdan and Vandagriff making their debuts Saturday, it’s the defense that might make this fall a special one for the program. Led by sixth-year coordinator Brad White, the defense returns 10 starters from last season. None more important than Deone Walker, a likely first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.

After reaching a bowl every year since 2016 (though the 2021 season’s Citrus Bowl appearance has been vacated due to NCAA violations), Kentucky hopes to take the next step this fall and work its way into College Football Playoff contention in the first season of the 12-team format.

That journey begins Saturday night at Kroger Field.

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
• Time: 7:45 p.m.
• Location: Kroger Field

• TV channel: SEC Network
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
• Radio: UK Sports Network (840 AM in Louisvillel 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington)

Kentucky vs. Southern Miss will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will call the game from the booth at Kroger Field, with Cole Cubelic reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

• Series record: Kentucky leads, 3-1
• Kentucky’s last win: 2017 (24-17)
• Southern Miss’ last win: 2016 (44-35)

Kentucky 34, Southern Miss 10: The Golden Eagles added numerous players from power conferences via the transfer portal during the offseason. Those additions won’t be nearly enough to send Kentucky to a season-opening loss, however, as coach Mark Stoops and Co. begin the 2024 campaign 1-0.

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Kentucky is a 24 ½-point favorite at home
• Over/under: 50
• Moneyline: Kentucky, -5000; Southern Miss, +1800

Kentucky has its share of players dealing with injuries. Presumed starting running back Chip Trayanum is out with a hand injury. A trio of UK defensive linemen (Josaih Hayes, Tavion Gadson and Darrion Henry-Young) are out indefinitely. Kentucky offensive lineman Courtland Ford also will miss an extended period of time.

The high is 94 degrees with thunderstorms and an 92% chance of rain in the forecast.

• Aug. 31: Southern Miss ∣ 7:45 p.m.
• Sept. 7: South Carolina ∣ 3:30 p.m
• Sept. 14: Georgia ∣ 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: Ohio ∣ 12:45 p.m.
• Sept. 28: at Ole Miss ∣ Noon
• Oct. 12: Vanderbilt
• Oct. 19: at Florida
• Oct. 26: Auburn
• Nov. 2: at Tennessee
• Nov. 16: Murray State ∣ 1:30 p.m.
• Nov. 23: at Texas
• Nov. 30: Louisville

Record: 0-0

Buy Kentucky football tickets this season with StubHub

• Aug. 31: at Kentucky
• Sept. 7: Southeastern Louisiana
• Sept. 14: USF
• Sept. 21: at Jacksonville State
• Oct. 5: Louisiana
• Oct. 12: at Louisiana Monroe
• Oct. 19: Arkansas State
• Oct. 26: at James Madison
• Nov. 9: Marshall
• Nov. 16: at Texas State
• Nov. 23: South Alabama
• Nov. 30: at Troy

Record: 0-0

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

Southern Miss football opens the season as an underdog at Kentucky on Saturday at Kroger Field.

The Golden Eagles have a retooled roster in a key season for coach Will Hall. Southern Miss’ quarterback situation will be a fascinating development throughout the game on Saturday, as Tate Rodemaker and Ethan Crawford are listed as co-starters at starting QB on the recently released depth chart.

Kentucky could be a darkhorse CFP team or simply a member of the SEC’s middle class. Either way, it’ll take a big effort for Southern Miss to compete for a victory on Saturday night against a much more talented roster than the one the program faced in the 2016 upset.

Here’s how to watch the Southern Miss football vs. Kentucky game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch Southern Miss vs. Kentucky live on Fubo (free trial)

Kentucky vs. Southern Miss will broadcast nationally on the SEC Network in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will call the game from the booth at Kroger Field, with Cole Cubelic reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. 

SCOUTING REPORT: Southern Miss football vs. Kentucky: Score prediction, scouting report in season opener

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
• Start time: 6:45 p.m. CT

The Southern Miss football vs. Kentucky game starts at 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday from Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

Hattiesburg American reporter Sam Sklar’s pick: Kentucky 38, Southern Miss 17

Reminder, Southern Miss was supposed to play this Week 1 game at Ohio State. Instead, Akron plays at Ohio State and is about a 50-point underdog. Kentucky is a much more beatable team and Southern Miss should be able to put up a fight for at least two quarters, but I have concerns about Southern Miss’ offensive line in this matchup.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Aug. 29

• Odds:  Southern Miss +28
• O/U:  49.5 points
• Money line: Southern Miss +2000, Kentucky -10000

• Aug. 31:  at Kentucky, 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 7:  SE Louisiana, 6 p.m. on ESPN+
• Sept. 14:  South Florida, 6 p.m. on ESPN+
• Sept. 21:  at Jacksonville State, 2 p.m. TBD
• Sept. 28:  OPEN DATE
• Oct. 5:  Louisiana, TBD
• Oct. 12:  at UL Monroe, TBD
• Oct. 19:  Arkansas State, TBD
• Oct. 26:  at James Madison, TBD
• Nov. 2:  OPEN DATE
• Nov. 9:  Marshall, TBD
• Nov. 16:  at Texas State, TBD
• Nov. 23:  South Alabama, TBD
• Nov. 30: at Troy, TBD
• Dec. 7:  Sun Belt Championship Game, TBD
• Record: 0-0

• Aug. 31:  Southern Miss, 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 7:  South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. on ABC
• Sept. 14:  Georgia, 6:30 p.m. on ABC
• Sept. 21:  Ohio, 11:45 a.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 28:  at Ole Miss, 11 a.m. on TBD
• Oct. 5:  OPEN DATE
• Oct. 12:  Vanderbilt, TBD
• Oct. 19:  at Florida, TBD
• Oct. 26:  Auburn, TBD
• Nov. 2:  at Tennessee, TBD
• Nov. 9:  OPEN DATE
• Nov. 16:  Murray State, 11:30 a.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+
• Nov. 23:  at Texas, TBD
• Nov. 30:  Louisville, TBD
• Dec. 7:  SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, 3 p.m. on ABC
• Record:  0-0

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our cove

VERSAILLES, Ky. (LEX 18) — “You know we have Woodford Reserve, we have Castle & Key, we have a castle, and now we are going to have another world class distillery in Versailles,” said Woodford County Judge Executive James Kay of the recent announcement made by Saga Spirits Group.

The group just recently announced plans to develop a project centered around bourbon and tourism. The 92.5 million dollar project includes a distillery, visitor center, an on-site retail and event space, as well as improvements to the Kentucky Castle.

“The Kentucky Castle has been fully transformed,” said Kay. “It is an amazing hotel, but it also has a working farm on the property. And another big deal for us is that Woodford county farmers are going to be supplying the grain and products to make this new bourbon.”

Kay said adding a world class bourbon maker in the heart of the bourbon capital of the world is a game changer.

“It’s going to bring 90 great paying jobs, it’s going to bring people from all over the world,” he said. “It’s going to add another stop on the bourbon trail and it’s a really big deal for us.”

The project is expected to break ground in Versailles this fall, just down the road from the Kentucky Castle. The distillery will sit on the 150-acre Edgewood property, behind Kroger on Lexington Rd.

“They’re going to try and be one of the first bourbon crafters and creators that try’s to keep down all of the other things that happen, the bi-products, things that cause the black mold…they are going to work in ways using technology and innovation to make sure it doesn’t create situations that we have dealt with, with other distilleries,” Kay said.

This project will also cater to visitors exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Keeneland.

“They are coming into our community, they want to be apart of who we are, they want to showcase us to the world and they also want to respect Woodford county, our land, and our citizens,” said Kay.