Kentucky Football Cracks PFF's Preseason Top 25 Rankings

by:Nick Roush•04/18/22•

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As the calendar turns from spring practice to talking season, preseason Top 25 rankings are popping up left and right. In almost every one of them you will find the Kentucky football team. Prepare accordingly.

Pro Football Focus is the latest publication to release a Way-Too-Early college football Top 25. Mark Stoops’ Wildcats are ranked No. 18.

Kentucky in a preseason Top 25 is noteworthy, albeit becoming commonplace. In each of ESPN’s computer rankings, FPI and SP+, the Kentucky football program was ranked No. 20 and No. 21, respectively. What is more revealing is how PFF’s Anthony Treash evaluated the rest of the SEC, particularly the Eastern Division.

The Wildcats are one of eight SEC teams in the PFF preseason Top 25. Most consider the Kentucky football team is one of three teams vying for second place in the SEC East behind Georgia. Typically, Tennessee is the popular pick, but PFF is actually taking South Carolina and Spencer Rattler ahead of the Cats and the Vols.

Crowning South Carolina as Champions of the Universe in the preseason a running joke among Kentucky fans, yet the stupid stigma is continually reinforced by media members that just can’t help themselves. First it was Will Muschamp, now Shane Beamer is South Carolina’s snake oil salesman. All the younger Beamer needed was a Belk Bowl win and a few transfers to hook the line, and now folks around the South are falling for the team that has defeated Kentucky just once in its last eight attempts.