KSR Today: Well, here goes nothing

This has typically been a weekend that brings the best out of Big Blue Nation, backs against the wall, ready to take on the king of the SEC for the last half-decade and the only coach and program to rival Nick Saban at Alabama stretching back further from that to 2016 under Kirby Smart. Kentucky hasn’t beaten the Georgia Bulldogs since 2009, but the Wildcats have been known for going down swinging with fans talking themselves into the upset over and over — and they nearly pulled it off last year in a 13-12 rock fight in Lexington, won by the Dawgs.

This year, though, just feels… different, and not in a good way. Optimism was low going into the year, and after two SEC losses — one being an embarrassing blowout on the road — there isn’t a ton of hope going down to Athens this weekend as three-touchdown underdogs. Georgia is coming off a tough one at home against Alabama, hungry to get back in the win column and prove its status atop the College Football Playoff picture. Kentucky is, well, potentially going winless in conference play, staring down the barrel of a 3-9 season. How would you get up for what could be an ugly afternoon at Sanford Stadium? I want a sip of whatever you’re drinking if you are.

Maybe this is right where we want them, overlooking the competition as the Cats prepare to prove the world wrong, Stoops desperate to shift the momentum and get the fanbase back behind him. That’d certainly be a welcome outcome. Likely? Again, pass the drink over if that’s how you feel.

But we’ll all still be there watching, either in Athens or from our couches, right there at Noon ET on ABC. Because that’s what we do. Here goes nothing.

Cats, Dawgs preview the game

Kentucky defense

Kentucky offense

Kirby Smart

KSR previews the game

Just how bad will it get in Athens? Have the KSR football guys tell you, starting with Nick Roush and Adam Luckett before they take on the sea of red this weekend themselves.

Earlier in the week, the KSR Football Podcast did the same, adding Drew Franklin and Van Hiles to the mix with Roush and Luckett.

Maybe you’ll feel better about it all, maybe you won’t.

Kentucky/Georgia Availability Reports

How healthy are the Cats and Dawgs going into the matchup? We got the latest availability reports from the SEC late Thursday evening.

KENTUCKY AVAILABILITY
OUT:

• RB #10 Jamarion Wilcox
• DB #21 Nasir Addison
• DB #24 Jaden Smith
• DL #55 Nic Smith
• WR #82 David Washington Jr.
• TE #85 Elijah Brown
• WR #89 Preston Bowman

QUESTIONABLE

• DB #5 DJ Waller Jr.
• LB #32 Devin Smith

PROBABLE

• OL #53 Aba Selm
• QB #5 Zach Calzada

GEORGIA AVAILABILITY

OUT

• TE #9 Ethan Barbour
• WR #11 Talyn Taylor
• OL #51 Malachi Toliver
• OL #71 Earnest Greene III
• WR #88 Thomas Blackshear

Hoops and Heels

Media Day is on Monday, followed by Pro Day on Tuesday, then Big Blue Madness next Saturday. If football has you feeling down, basketball is almost here to pick you up. In fact, for the ladies, basketball is here to pick you up, now.

Mark Pope’s second annual Hoops and Heels event will take place tonight from 5-7 PM ET inside Memorial Coliseum. There, attendees will be able to meet the players, tour the locker room and watch practice, among other perks.

The event is sold out with only waitlist options remaining — you can give that a shot, if you’re interested, payment of $50 only required if a spot opens up ahead of tonight’s event.

One way or another, expect to see the content start rolling out this evening and into the weekend as the first official event of the season. Fun, right?

Blue-White Event tickets go on sale

Speaking of preseason events, tickets for one big-time event for fans to attend in the next few weeks are on sale starting this morning. You can purchase your seat(s) at the annual Blue-White Event featuring the men’s and women’s basketball programs, set for Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 PM ET inside Memorial Coliseum, starting this morning at 10 AM ET.

Reserved seats start out at $29.65 — which includes fees — and are available exclusively through Ticketmaster (click here). Prices will vary by seat location.

A limited number of courtside seats will also be available for fans looking for a premium experience. Children two years of age and under will be admitted for free when seated on the lap of a ticketed adult. 

NINE stream-only events coming up for Kentucky

Make sure you buy your tickets, but if you can’t attend in person, you will be able to watch the Blue-White Event from home — with a catch.

It’s being broadcast live, but only on SEC Network+, just like six additional games on the schedule, including five in the regular season. That makes nine total events in total on SECN+ if you add UK Pro Day and Big Blue Madness.

Kentucky announced the new streaming games on Thursday:

• Georgetown (EXH) – Oct. 30, 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
• Nicholls – Nov. 4, 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
• Valparaiso – Nov. 7, 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
• Eastern Illinois – Nov. 14, 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
• Loyola (Maryland) – Nov. 21, 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
• Bellarmine – Dec. 23, 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+

In total, those will join Kentucky’s Pro Day event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 5:30 PM ET, Big Blue Madness on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6 PM ET and the Blue-White Event on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 PM ET. If you haven’t purchased SECN+ by now, you’d better do it soon.

Why was the Kentucky staff hanging out with the OKC Thunder?

Before things ramp up this season, the Wildcats flew out to Oklahoma City to hang out with a Kentucky legend — and arguably the best player in the world right now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with fellow world champion Cason Wallace

Pope brought Alvin Brooks, Cody Fueger, Mark Fox, Nick Robinson, Matt Santoro and Rock Oliver with him to meet with the defending champions, led by league MVP and scoring champion SGA.

“Thank you to the World Champions (Oklahoma City Thunder) for the ELITE hospitality!” Brooks wrote on social media. “It was great to learn and see our (Kentucky) fam (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and (Cason Wallace).”

Thank you to the World Champions @okcthunder for the ELITE hospitality! It was great to learn and see our @KentuckyMBB fam @shaiglalex @wallace_cason 🔵⚪️

It was great to see family through the fam @sunsetAMIR also @ACFresh21 @Youngbloo2Chris 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/jtZcNCogvr

— Alvin Brooks III (@Coach_AB3) October 3, 2025

SGA and Wallace both have three years of eligibility remaining if they want to run it back with the Wildcats.

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Time to shock the world? Probably not, but why not dream big? It doesn’t cost a thing.