KSR Today: One week from college football

After eight long months of waiting, college football season is back. Well, almost.

Exactly one week from today, the 2021 college football season will begin, with five games set to take place on Saturday, August 28. And then from there, football fans will get a strong slate of mid-week games leading up to the full schedule throughout Labor Day weekend.

Check out the full slate of games and television broadcast schedule below:

Saturday, August 28

• Nebraska at Illinois – 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• UConn at Fresno State – 2 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
• Hawai’I at UCLA – 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• UTEP at New Mexico State – 9:30 p.m. ET
• Southern Utah at San Jose State – 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)

Wednesday, September 1

• UAB vs. Jacksonville State – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, September 2

• Temple at Rutgers – 6:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
• The Citadel at No. 22 Coastal Carolina – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• Long Island University at Florida International – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
• Boise State at UCF – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Western Illinois at Ball State 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• Wagner at Buffalo – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
• Weber State at No. 24 Utah – 7:30 p.m. ET (PAC 12 Network)
• South Florida at NC State – 7:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
• East Carolina vs. Appalachian State – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
• UC Davis at Tulsa – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• No. 4 Ohio State at Minnesota – 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Bowling Green at Tennessee – 8 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
• UT Martin at Western Kentucky – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• Houston Baptist at New Mexico – 8 p.m. ET
• Eastern Washington at UNLV – 10 p.m. ET
• Southern Utah at No. 25 Arizona State – 10:30 p.m. ET (PAC 12 Network)

Big Blue Madness, Blue-White Game announced

Dates for the Big Blue Madness Presented by Papa John’s, the annual tipoff to the Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball seasons, and the men’s basketball Blue-White Game have been set.

Big Blue Madness will take place Oct. 15 in Rupp Arena at 7 p.m. The Blue-White Game is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Rupp Arena at 7 p.m.

While continuing to monitor the latest health and safety guidelines from local and national authorities, UK Athletics plans to operate venues at full capacity this season, including at Big Blue Madness and the Blue-White Game. 

Tickets to Big Blue Madness will be free again this year but there will be no in-person public distribution at Memorial Coliseum due to health and safety guidelines. Ticket distribution details will be announced later.

Ticket information for the Blue-White Game, the men’s intrasquad scrimmage, will also be announced later.

Big Blue Madness Presented by Papa John’s will feature introductions of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, practice drills, videos and more. This will be the 16th time Madness has been held in Rupp Arena. Last year’s event took place in Memorial Coliseum as a TV-only event for fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Franklin County beats Scott County in Kroger’s KSR Game of the Week

The 2021 debut of Kroger’s KSR Game of the Week was a success, as the Franklin County Flyers cruised to a 43-14 win over the Scott County Cardinals to open the high school football season.

After a year of attendance limitations and scheduling hurdles due to COVID-19, Flyer fans were out in full force to celebrate not only the upcoming season, but the team’s first-ever state championship appearance in 2020.

Junior running back Kaden Moorman, who has offers from Wisconsin and Kentucky, scored three touchdowns and was named Player of the Game in the blowout win.

Reed Sheppard celebrates North Laurel victory over Bell County

North Laurel’s season kicked off last night, and a familiar face was in the stands cheering on the Jaguars.

Kentucky basketball target Reed Sheppard was in the North Laurel Student Pep Section for the Jaguars’ 30-22 overtime victory over Bell County.

Les Nicholson was in attendance shooting the game and snagged a photo of the UK target enjoying his junior year.

NFL Preseason Continues

Friday, August 20

Washington Football Team def. Cincinnati Bengals 17-13

• Jamin Davis (WFT) – One tackle (one solo)
• Jon Toth (WFT)

Kansas City Chiefs def. Arizona Cardinals 17-10

• Corey Peters (Cardinals) – DNP (Rest)

Saturday, August 21

Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET – NFL Network)

• Danny Trevathan (Bears)

Green Bay Packers vs. New York Jets (4:25 p.m. ET – NFL Network)

• Za’Darius Smith (Packers)
• Randall Cobb (Packers)
• Brandin Echols (Jets)

Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens (7 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

• Phil Hoskins (Panthers)
• Chris Westry (Ravens)

Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

• Lynn Bowden Jr. (Dolphins) – INJURED (strained hamstring)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans (7:30 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

• Mike Edwards (Buccaneers)
• Bud Dupree (Titans)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions (7:30 p.m. ET – NFL Network)

• Benny Snell (Steelers)
• TJ Carter (Steelers)
• Boogie Watson (Steelers)
• Logan Stenberg (Lions)

Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts (8 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

• AJ Rose (Vikings)

Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans (8 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

• Kelvin Joseph (Cowboys)
• Quinton Bohanna (Cowboys)
• Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Texans)
• Drake Jackson (Texans)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Las Vegas Raiders (10 p.m. ET – NFL Network)

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos (10 p.m. ET – NFL GamePass)

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Enjoy your football-filled weekend, BBN.