8 Games Left, 8 Key Questions for Kentucky Football

These last 8 games for UK football are filled with questions and will be a great barometer of where this program is and can be headed. It feels like we have been scratching the surface of being a serious football program for several years but just cant quite capitalize for long stretches. The great thing is UK has 8 games left that all have unique circumstances and questions. All 8 are important for a variety of reasons.

GAME 1: Florida (Lexington)

QUESTION: Can UK keep on top of series with Florida?

Kentucky has never had a run of success against Florida like this in anybody’s lifetime, with a legit chance of winning their 4th game in 6 years against the Gators. And this will be the first time in this stretch UK is favored. So it feels like if the Cats cant get it done this year that will be a step back for the program. If we want to be considered a top tier SEC program, Florida and Tennessee have to wins more often than not.

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GAME 2: GEORGIA (ATHENS)

Question: Is UK anywhere near the caliber of UGA?

The biggest Kentucky Football question out there: are we at all close to Georgia? I’m not sure anybody can reasonably predict a UK win over Georgia on their home field. Thats fine. There are maybe 8-10 teams in the country who have realistic expectations to win all 12 games on their schedule. But, UK wants to be considered a legit football program in this conference. and the way to do that now is being competitive with Georgia. I’m sorry but I dont think our two best teams were really competitive with UGA. We lost in 2018 and 2021 by 17 points. Last year’s team lost by 10, which was another step in the right direction but were we really ever in that game? I want to see us make Georgia sweat in the fourth quarter like Mizzou did last year.

GAME 3: MISSOURI (LEXINGTON)

Question: Which tier is UK currently in?

The SEC East is currently in a few tiers. Georgia is in a tier all by itself. Tennessee and Florida are just below that. South Carolina and Missouri are mid-tier programs. And then Vanderbilt is in a class all its own. And while teams can slightly move from year to year, that is the overall pecking order in the division. UK wants to be in the UF-UT tier. And to do that you just can’t lose to Missouri at home. Ever. And we really should handle Mizzou with ease as well. We cant struggle with a program like Missouri and consider ourselves on the verge of something.

GAME 4: TENNESSEE (Lexington)

Question: Does Tennessee even have fear of Kentucky?

For a time there, the rivalry between UK and UT had seemed to level out. UK had gotten a couple wins and even took one in Knoxville. But the last two years felt a lot more like the 1984-2016 series where UT just treated the Cats like a beaten down little brother. They stunned one of our best teams in Lexington in 2021 and the game in Knoxville last year was maybe the worst UK performance in the last 5 years. Now, the Vols have taken a step back this year but they almost certainly think they are better than UK. We need to prove them wrong. The question on if UK football can truly be #2 in the division can be answered here.

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GAME 5: MISSISSIPPI STATE (STARKVILLE)

Question: Can Kentucky break the Starkville curse?

Six straight losses to the Bulldogs in Starkville. With Mike Leach no longer in charge of the program, it’s time for UK to stop alternating wins with MSU. That is a program we need to beat consistently is we want to be considered in the upper tier of SEC football. This will show a lot of grit for UK to win there following a very difficult 4-game stretch.

GAME 6: ALABAMA (Lexington)

Question: Can UK take advantage of a down year for Bama?

You’re probably never going to get Alabama at a better time and you get them in Lexington. Alabama is still going to be formidable but their QB play isn’t going to get much better. You can see they’ve taken a big step back there. So can our program take advantage when we get this opportunity? We’ve had a few over the years and rarely cash in. This would be a chance to change that history.

GAME 7: SOUTH CAROLINA (COLUMBIA)

Question: Who is going to be the bully in this rivalry?

This yearly matchup is such an odd one for UK. It’s one the Cats have had a lot of success with under Stoops. But it’s also one that has been the main matchup to decide who gets to claim they are SEC contenders. I’m not sure either program can really claim it at this point but you really have no argument if you can’t beat the other. UK needs payback for last seasons debacle in Lexington. Fatigue could be a factor here too as UK will have been through a 6-game ringer at this point. But so will South Carolina so that cant be the excuse. Must win here. This game will answer the question of where UK football is going more than any other.

GAME 8: LOUISVILLE (Louisville)

Question: Will Jeff Brohm immediately turn rivalry?

UL fans are going to be absurdly obnoxious coming into this game as they will likely be 8-3 or 9-2 and potentially ranked in a pathetic ACC. The game is on their field. Jeff Brohm takes this rivalry seriously, even though he actually never played Kentucky. Nonetheless, there will be this movement that the rivalry has already shifted in the Cards favor, even though they haven’t actually won a game. If UK can keep control of the rivalry with a with in Louisville, it will be the most satisfying win in the series since the Lamar fumble.

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