Kentucky

KSR's 2024 Kentucky Football Season Predictions

Published

2 hours 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 passing game could have favorable matchup versus Southern Miss

Published

9 hours ago

August 25, 2024

Press Room

Kentucky passing game could have favorable matchup versus Southern Miss

Anthrony Brown-stephens On Kentucky Football Fall Camp

Much of the talk during the offseason surrounding the Kentucky football program has been about making strides in the running game. The Wildcats are hoping that an experienced offensive line along with tempo and a QB run element will give this offense more efficiency.

But balance is still needed.

With the return of Barion Brown and Dane Key, along with the addition of North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin, Kentucky has clear explosive play potential in the passing game. First-time starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff now must prove he can get these playmakers the football.

Kentucky’s passing game has a chance to put up some big numbers in Week 1.

Southern Miss has made a change at defensive coordinator with Clay Bignell moving over from FCS Eastern Illinois. That move was made because the Golden Eagles could not stop anyone in 2023. The passing defense numbers were very, very bad.

Yards Per Pass: 8.9 (No. 131 overall)
Success Rate: 45.5% (No. 116 overall)
EPA/play: 0.09 (No. 98 overall)
20+ yard pass plays allowed: 49 (No. 118 overall)

The Golden Eagles forced their fair share of incompletions with opposing offenses posting a 58.2 percent completion rate, but when those passes were caught, they were keeping offenses ahead of the chains and generating chunk gains at a high clip. Southern Miss is hoping a coaching change pays off, but there is also heavy personnel turnover.

Southern Miss returns only one player (cornerback Michael Caraway, Jr.) who played more than 300 snaps last season in the secondary. That creates an opportunity for big plays for an experienced Kentucky wide receiver unit.

There has been a lot of talk about the running game, but do not be surprised if offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan airs it out early with big results in Week 1 at Kroger Field.

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Kentucky

Alexa Minton’s Forecast | Tracking temps returning to normal

Published

16 hours ago

August 25, 2024

Press Room

Alexa Minton’s Forecast | Tracking temps returning to normal

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – We have another day of us building back up our temperatures into that typical August feel. Temps today will rise into the upper 80s for many, and factoring in some humidity will have us feeling that summer steam once again. A few models are tracking an isolated rain chance for our area, but many will only notice sunny – but muggy – skies for our Sunday. Take advantage for the calm conditions so we are are tracking rain to return in the work week.

The front end of the week will remain mainly dry for many, with a few isolated chances as a system passes north of the state. Temps will continue to climb, peaking in the low end of the 90s for Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday evening the humidity will switch from rain into showers, giving us rain chances in the overnight that lead into Wednesday.

Scattered storms will remain persistent on Wednesday – and while things will calm down on Thursday, we are seeing more rain chances possible as we head into Labor Day weekend.

Have a great Sunday!

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Kentucky

Opinion – Keith Taylor: 7-5 sounds about right for Kentucky football this season – NKyTribune

Published

23 hours ago

August 25, 2024

Press Room

Opinion – Keith Taylor: 7-5 sounds about right for Kentucky football this season – NKyTribune

Kentucky hasn’t missed a bowl game in eight years but that streak could be in jeopardy this season, considering a schedule that no longer includes permanent Southeastern Conference opponents such as Missouri and Mississippi State.

The Wildcats will play eight home games and just four road encounters in Mark Stoops’ 12th season at the helm. A quick glance at the schedule forecasts a 7-5 record and an ninth straight bowl appearance.

Keith Taylor

The following is a breakdown of what could be in store when the season kicks off against Southern Mississippi on Aug. 31 at Kroger Field.

SOUTHERN MISS, Aug. 31

Surprisingly, the Golden Eagles have played the Wildcats closer than expected in the previous two games between the two teams. Southern Miss stunned Kentucky 44-35 in 2016 and escaped with a 24-17 victory in Hattiesburg a year later in 2017.

Prediction: Kentucky 34, Southern Miss 13.

SOUTH CAROLINA, Sept. 7

Kentucky had a three-game wining streak against the Gamecocks snapped last season when Shane Beamer’s squad defeated the Wildcats 17-14 last year in Columbia for one of South Carolina’s five victories last season.

Prediction: Kentucky 28, South Carolina 20

GEORGIA, Sept. 14

It’s been 14 years since Kentucky defeated Georgia and the Bulldogs continually are one of the top teams not only in the Southeastern Conference, but in the nation. Kentucky surrendered 51 points to Kirby Smart’s squad last season and the Bulldogs are poised to make a run for the national title again and the Wildcats will likely have to wait to end the losing skid against the Bulldogs.

Prediction: Georgia 48, Kentucky 17

OHIO, Sept. 21

Kentucky will play the Bobcats in the last of four straight home games to open the season. Ohio has won 10 games in each of the past two seasons but will be hard pressed to continue the trend again. Kentucky lost to the Bobcats in 2004, but defeated Ohio 20-3 in the last meeting between the two teams in 2014.

Prediction: Kentucky 34, Ohio 13

At OLE MISS, Sept. 28

Lane Kiffin has the Rebels on the national stage and poised for a breakout season. Kentucky’s first road game of the season in Oxford won’t be an easy task in the SEC opener for Kiffin’s squad. Ole Miss has won three in a row over the Wildcats, all by three points or less.

Prediction: Ole Miss 41, Kentucky 24

VANDERBILT, Oct. 12

In the Commodores’ last visit to Lexington in 2022, Vandy stunned Kentucky 24-21 but the Wildcats returned the favor with a 45-28 win a year ago in Nashville. The Commodores went winless in the league last season and enters the season on a 10-game losing streak.

Prediction: Kentucky 42, Vandy 10

At FLORIDA, Oct. 19

For the longest time, Kentucky couldn’t beat the Gators, but ended a 31-game losing streak to Florida with a memorable 27-16 stunner in 2018. Since then, Kentucky has won three of the past five games and carries a three-game winning streak into this year’s contest in Gainesville.

Prediction: Florida 23, Kentucky 20

AUBURN, Oct. 26

The two teams haven’t played since 2020 and Hugh Freeze hopes to take the Tigers to the next level in his second season on The Plains. Auburn has won three in a row over Kentucky and 18 of the last 19 encounters between the two teams.

PREDICTION: Auburn 28, Kentucky 24

At TENNESSEE, Nov. 2

The Volunteers have scored at least 30 points in the past three games against the Wildcats and Volunteers coach Josh Heupel is 3-0 against Kentucky. Tennessee edged the Wildcats 33-27 a year ago in Lexington after surrending 89 points to Tennessee in the previous two encounters.

Prediction: Tennessee 31, Kentucky 21

MURRAY STATE, Nov. 16

The Racers will provide a relief for the Wildcats going into the final three games of the season. Kentucky is 2-0 against Murray State and defeated the Racers 48-10 in the last game between the two teams at Kroger Field in 2018.

Prediction: Kentucky 42, Murray State 14

At TEXAS, Nov. 23

The last time the Wildcats and the Longhorns played, Texas escaped with a 7-6 victory in 1951. The two teams will produce more scoring this time but the Longhorns will be too much for the Wildcats as Texas makes its first tour of duty through the SEC.

Prediction: Texas 38, Kentucky 13

LOUISVILLE, Nov. 30

Jeff Brohm guided the Cardinals to 10 wins last season and an appearance in the ACC Championship game in his first season as coach of the Cardinals, but Kentucky’s 38-31 win was the first of three straight setbacks by the Cardinals to end the season. Kentucky carries a five-game winning streak into the 30th anniversary of the series renewal between the two in-state foes.

Kentucky 34, Louisville 31

FINAL RECORD: 7-5.

Keith Taylor is sports editor of Kentucky Today, where this column first appeared.

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