Kentucky

KSR's 2024 Kentucky Football Season Predictions

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2024

KSR's 2024 Kentucky Football Season Predictions

The 2024 Kentucky Football season kicks off on Saturday vs. Southern Miss. With the SEC expanding to 16 teams, Kentucky’s schedule is tougher than ever, featuring four teams in the Preseason AP Top 25, three in the top six. That said, KSR believes the Cats will go bowling for the ninth straight year.

All 15 members of our panel have Kentucky reaching six wins and starting the season 3-1, the first loss coming to No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 14. Of the three road games against ranked teams, Nick Roush calls for an upset at Ole Miss, Shannon the Dude believes the Cats will beat Tennessee in Knoxville, and Jack Pilgrim and Jacob Polacheck think Kentucky will bring a home win from Texas. On the flip side, Billy Rutledge and BTI play heel, predicting Louisville will snap its five-year losing streak in the Governor’s Cup by beating Kentucky at Kroger Field to end the regular season. Boooo.

Seven of us have Kentucky finishing 7-5, six 8-4, and two 6-6. Check out our picks and reasoning below in visual and written form.

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Comments from the panel…

Tyler Thompson: 7-5

I think the gap between 7-5 and 8-4 is very small this year. The likelihood of Kentucky beating Georgia, Tennessee, and/or Texas is low, especially since two of those games are on the road. The Cats should have won at Ole Miss two years ago and have more than a puncher’s chance this year thanks to an elite defense and an early kickoff time. Even if they pull off that upset — which could change the trajectory of the season — I worry about the game in Gainesville three weeks later.

Mark Stoops’ teams always drop a game they shouldn’t, and this year, I think that’s vs. Florida. The Gators are desperate to snap the losing streak to Kentucky and Billy Napier’s seat is hot. The Cats can get back on track vs. Auburn the next Saturday at home and finish the season with a win over Louisville. A 7-5 record may not look good on paper, but when you consider the schedule, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Drew Franklin: 8-4

I predict an 8-4 record for Kentucky in 2024, winning big games against South Carolina, Louisville, and Auburn in Lexington and at Florida in the Swamp. The latter will mark the end of Billy Napier in Gainesville as the Gators drop a fourth straight to the Wildcats, furthering UK’s dominance in the series that Florida owned for decades.

Kentucky’s four losses will come against its four toughest opponents in Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. However, an upset is not out of the question in those games.

Nick Roush: 7-5

On paper, this feels like it’s better than a seven-win team, but college football programs are prisoners to their schedules and this one is a doozy. Ole Miss is Kentucky’s most likely upset. Mark Stoops always plays them close, losing three games by a combined seven points. Like the last trip to Oxford, the Rebels will enter this game untested after Kentucky already has a few SEC battles under its belt.

As much as I’d love to pick a fourth-straight win over Florida, it feels too good to be true. Yes, we can all see a scenario where Stoops leaves a few pink slips on the sideline of The Swamp, but I think Florida is better on paper than what most people will give them credit for and this is a must-win for Billy Napier. They’ll be ready to play. That loss won’t sting as badly as the Auburn one. Kentucky has struggled at home as of late and I believe Hugh Freeze will have the Tigers over-achieving in the second year of his tenure. Win either of those two games and most of BBN will believe Kentucky had a pretty darn good season.

Adam Luckett: 7-5

Kentucky ends the two-game losing streak to South Carolina to set up some big conference games in September. The Wildcats then extend the winning streak over Florida but let one slip away at Auburn. The Cats will attempt to play College Football Playoff spoiler on the road in November versus Tennessee and Texas but will end the year on a high note with another win over Louisville. I’m afraid a third consecutive 7-5 finish feels like the most likely outcome for a top 20-25 caliber team mostly due to a very difficult schedule.

Jack Pilgrim: 8-4

Mark Stoops has one of his most talented rosters from top to bottom, but he also has his toughest schedule since arriving in Lexington. That’s going to lead to a season that feels better than maybe the final record suggests — 8-4 this year is like 9-3 or even 10-2 in others. It’ll be a bounce-back year after what was inarguably a letdown campaign in 2023.

Zack Geoghegan: 7-5

The new-look SEC is going to do Kentucky no favors this season. The ‘Cats should have little issue winning all four non-conference games (Louisville has to prove it can challenge UK before we take them seriously) but there are five SEC opponents either ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes. Three matchups against the preseason Top 6 (Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas) will be tough to pull off wins in. But Kentucky will win the games it’s supposed to this season, including a big road win over Florida. I foresee no major upset this season, resulting in a respectable final record of 7-5.

Jacob Polacheck: 8-4

I have a feeling we’re going to see this Kentucky team come close to exceeding expectations this season with an 8-4 record. The SEC schedule is tough, but this is the most talented Kentucky team we’ve seen in a while, so I’m expecting some upsets, most notably on the road against Texas.

Shannon the Dude: 8-4

It has been a relatively quiet off-season for Kentucky Football. Part of that is from coming off a season where last year’s team fell short of expectations but the other part of that is a quiet confidence that Mark Stoops has in this team. Kentucky pulls off the upset in Knoxville and finishes with a big win over Louisville to go 8-4.

Bryan the Intern: 6-6

I’m playing the law of averages game with this season. Mark Stoops’ teams play better in the 1st half of the season than the 2nd, thus 4-2 in the first 6 games and 2-4 in the last 6. Kentucky always blows a game they shouldn’t and this year that’s either Auburn or Florida. I chose the road game. And frankly, UofL is due in the series and probably comes into the game quite a bit pissed off from last year’s choke. I don’t like question marks at offensive line when you are a run-heavy coach and a new QB. And yes, until I see different, Mark Stoops will not have a pass-happy offense. I hope I’m wrong on all accounts but as the only person who predicted 7-5 last year, I’m the most expert of this group of Roush brains.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Transfer WR Hardley Gilmore IV Commits to Louisville

Published

21 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Transfer WR Hardley Gilmore IV Commits to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Montavin Quisenberry isn’t the only former Kentucky wide receiver to switch out blue for red this offseason.

Hardley Gilmore IV announced Thursday that he has committed to the Louisville football program.

He’s the fifth Wildcat to transfer to the Cardinals in this cycle, following Quisenberry, who committed earlier in the day, cornerback D.J. Waller plus defensive ends Jerod Smith II and Jacob Smith.

Gilmore is also the 11th portal pickup for UofL in the last three days, and their 15th transfer commitment overall in this cycle, beginning to offset 23 portal defections that UofL has seen so far. The 14-day transfer window officially opened up this past Friday, and is the only opportunity for players to enter following the removal of the spring window.

Despite Kentucky’s instability at quarterback this past season, Gilmore put together a productive 2025 campaign. Playing in all 12 games while starting five, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound receiver caught 28 passes for 313 yards and a touchdown. His reception and yardage total was second on the team to Kendrick Law.

The Belle Glade, Fla. native got immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2024. Appearing in seven games, Gilmore was able to haul in six passes for 153 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown vs. Murray State.

While Gilmore has shown high end potential on the field, he comes with some off-the-field baggage from last offseason. Last January after opting to transfer to Nebraska following his true freshman season, he was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching someone in the face at a storage facility in Lexington. Then this past April, he was dismissed from the Huskers for unknown reasons, and wound up returning to Kentucky.

“Nothing outside the program, nothing criminal or anything like that,” Huskers head coach Matt Rhule said at the time regarding Gilmore’s dismissal. “Just won’t be with us anymore.”

Gilmore and Quisenberry are the first of likely multiple transfer pieces that Louisville will add to their wide receiver room. Between graduation and the portal, the Cardinals are losing six receivers – including Chris Bell & Caullin Lacy.

In their third season under head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville went 9-4 overall, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play and a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three seasons under Brohm, doing so for the first time since 2012-14.

Kentucky

Spotted lanternfly confirmed in 8 new Kentucky counties. About invasive insect

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Spotted lanternfly confirmed in 8 new Kentucky counties. About invasive insect

The invasive spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in eight new Kentucky counties in 2025, bringing the total to 16.
Native to China, these insects pose a significant threat to agriculture, including orchards, vineyards, and various trees.
Spotted lanternflies damage plants by feeding on them and leaving behind a waste product that encourages mold growth.
Officials advise residents to inspect their property for the bugs and their egg masses, especially around dusk.
Sightings in Kentucky should be reported to the Department of Forestry or the University of Kentucky.

Entomologists have confirmed spotted lanternflies in eight more counties in Kentucky during 2025, according to a recent announcement.

These include Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Trimble and Woodford. The invasive insect was first found in the commonwealth in October 2023, in Gallatin County, and spread to counties including Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Henry, Kenton and Owen in 2024.

Here’s what to know.

What is a spotted lanternfly?

In short, the spotted lanternfly is a moth-like bug that’s not supposed to be in the U.S. The bugs tend to be red with black and/or white spots on their wings, according to the Department of Agriculture.

They’re native to China and first showed up in the U.S. in 2014. They’ve mostly been found in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the USDA reports, but they’ve also been found in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.

One of the things that makes them so risky as an invasive species is that the eggs are thought to travel well, on everything from packages being shipped to moving boxes on U-Hauls.

Why are spotted lanternflies dangerous?

Spotted lanternflies can pose a major threat to the things such as orchards, vineyards and logging facilities. How? They tend to swarm and devour what they land on quickly, causing serious damage.

Their “waste product” — known as “honeydew” — can also attract molds and other bugs that further damage plants.

They pose a threat, according to the USDA, to everything from almonds, apples and hops to maple, oak and pine trees and more.

Is the spotted lanternfly in Kentucky?

Yes. The Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist said in a post to Facebook that the spotted lanternfly was confirmed in eight new commonwealth counties during 2025.

The species has been located in 16 counties total — Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Trimble and Woodford.

What to do about spotted lanternflies

The biggest thing you can do, according to the USDA, to help control the spread of the spotted lanternfly is to keep an eye out for them.

It is recommended that you inspect trees, plants and other surfaces on your property for bugs. It’s best to do that around dusk, the USDA says, because that’s when bugs tend to congregate, making them easier to spot.

Signs that a plant may be infected include the plant oozing, becoming moldy or developing a fermented odor, according to the USDA. You may also see a “buildup of sticky fluid” beneath the infected plant.

The agency also recommends you keep an eye out for egg masses on everything from plants to boxes that hold things such as holiday decorations and often sit unattended for much of the year. If you spot an egg mass, you should scrape it “into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag shut and dispose of it,” according to the USDA.

In Kentucky, you should report sightings to your Department of Forestry regional office or reach the UK at 859-257-7597 or forestry.extension@uky.edu. UK experts also ask that anyone who finds one send a picture with the location to reportapest@uky.edu.

Contributing: Mary Ramsey, The Courier Journal. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.

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Kentucky

Kentucky vs Missouri score today, UK basketball game updates

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky vs Missouri score today, UK basketball game updates

LEXINGTON — Every time Jaland Lowe steps on the court, be it a practice or a game, is like rolling the dice. Or, as he described it during a news conference Tuesday morning, “it’s a risk” whenever he suits up for Kentucky basketball because of his ongoing shoulder injury.

He originally injured the shoulder during the Blue-White game on Oct. 17. He’s reinjured it twice more since then.

Expected to be the Wildcats’ starting point guard this season, Lowe has yet to appear in the lineup since the regular season tipped off. Each of his seven outings this season has been in a reserve role.

Stream Kentucky vs. Missouri

With the injury hanging over his head like a guillotine that could end his 2025-26 campaign at any moment, Lowe has had to learn to play a new way.

“I don’t know if y’all will notice on TV as much or in person,” he said. “But sometimes when you’re on the court, you can realize I’m not doing some things that I would love to do in the moment, just as a competitor and as a fighter. I can’t do some of those things. I have to pull back sometimes just to not put myself at a huge risk.”

Lowe acknowledged having to rein in his aggressive tendencies is “frustrating” to no end.

“But if I wanna play, I gotta do what I gotta do,” Lowe said.

Lowe and the rest of his teammates aim to help Kentucky bounce back from last week’s loss at Alabama. UK has that opportunity tonight, hosting Missouri at Rupp Arena in the Wildcats’ SEC home opener.

UK (9-5, 0-1 SEC) and Missouri (11-3, 1-0) are unranked in the two major polls (USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches and AP Top 25).

Courier Journal sports reporter Ryan Black and columnist C.L. Brown are at Rupp Arena and will have live updates throughout the game — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow them on X at @RyanABlack and @clbrownhoops.

Follow along with live updates from today’s game between the Wildcats and Tigers below:

TV channel: ESPN2
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The game between the Wildcats and Tigers will air nationally on ESPN2.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.

Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.

Stream Kentucky vs. Missouri on ESPN2

Betting odds: Kentucky is a 12 ½-point favorite (-112) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 149 ½ points (-115/-105).

Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.

You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.

Oct. 17: Blue-White game (Click here to read takeaways from the intrasquad scrimmage.)
Oct. 24: exhibition vs. Purdue (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Purdue 65
Oct. 30: exhibition vs. Georgetown University (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Georgetown 84, Kentucky 70
Nov. 4: Nicholls (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Nicholls 51
Nov. 7: Valparaiso (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 107, Valparaiso 59
Nov. 11: at Louisville (KFC Yum! Center) | SCORE: Louisville 96, Kentucky 88
Nov. 14: Eastern Illinois (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Eastern Illinois 53
Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Michigan State 83, Kentucky 66
Nov. 21: Loyola University Maryland (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Loyola Maryland 46
Nov. 26: Tennessee Tech (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 104, Tennessee Tech 54
Dec. 2: North Carolina (Rupp Arena; ACC/SEC Challenge) | SCORE: North Carolina 67, Kentucky 64
Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga (Bridgestone Arena; Nashville) | SCORE: Gonzaga 94, Kentucky 59
Dec. 9: North Carolina Central (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 103, North Carolina Central 67
Dec. 13: Indiana (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 72, Indiana 60
Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s (CBS Sports Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) | SCORE: Kentucky 78, St. John’s 66
Dec. 23: Bellarmine (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Bellarmine 85
Jan. 3: at Alabama | SCORE: Alabama 89, Kentucky 74
Jan. 7: Missouri (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m.
Jan. 10: Mississippi State (Rupp Arena), 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 14: at LSU, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Tennessee, noon
Jan. 21: Texas (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m.
Jan. 24: Ole Miss (Rupp Arena), noon
Jan. 27: at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m.
Jan. 31: at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 4: Oklahoma (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
Feb. 7: Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: at Florida, 3 p.m.
Feb. 17: Georgia (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
Feb. 21: at Auburn, 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Feb. 28: Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m.
March 3: at Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
March 7: Florida (Rupp Arena), 4 p.m.