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.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join the KSR Club.

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. Now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the party.

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!

Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.

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.

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.