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Start Time Postponed for Kentucky vs. Southern Miss due to Lightning Delay

Nick-Roush-headshotby: Nick Roush09/01/24RoushKSR
Kentucky Wildcats mascot during a rainstorm at Kroger Field - Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio
Kentucky Wildcats mascot during a rainstorm at Kroger Field - Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

The Kentucky season-opener against Southern Miss has been in a lightning delay since just before 6 pm EST. It does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Follow along here for updates and continue the conversation on KSBoard.

9:35 UPDATE: The plan is for the teams to retake the field at 9:40 pm and kick the game off at 10:05 pm EST. Let’s Go!

9:21 UPDATE: There will be a meeting at 9:35 pm to determine when the teams can take the field for warm-ups. “We are following SEC and NCAA protocols on next steps,” UK Tweeted. “We will provide updates after the next meeting.” Let’s hope this is the moment we’ve been waiting for.

9:16 UPDATE: We’re not any closer to kickoff, but this crowd is on fire. Even the ball boys got an ovation running onto the field. As for a potential start time, keep your fingers crossed that this thing can get kicked off around 10 pm EST.

9:06 UPDATE: Mark Stoops is on the field. He was pacing for a bit near the 10-yard line, looking at his watch. Now he’s meandering on over to the UK sideline. There are about a dozen or so managers who have stayed on the field since this lightning delay started.

9:00 UPDATE: While fans are dancing to Mony Mony, this is how Steven Peake is coping during the lengthy delay.

8:56 UPDATE: They turned on the new blue LED lights to keep the fans engaged. It’s kinda fun how it’s synched up with the lightning bolts.

8:50 UPDATE: We just spotted another enormous lightning bolt over downtown Lexington. I fear this thing will never end (and it will never actually rain).

8:40 UPDATE: The game will not start before 9:20, according to SEC Network. Southern Miss equipment managers just ran across the field carrying the special teams nets. We just spotted more lightning.

8:35 UPDATE: Prepare for a very, very long night. Teams will reconvene at 8:50 to see if they can start warming up. Even though very few raindrops have fallen at Kroger Field, lightning continues to irregularly flash nearby, pushing the start time back 30 minutes each time. The stands are still pretty full. You would think kickoff would happen at any moment. Tonight is a test of patience for Big Blue Nation.

8:30 UPDATE: Dua Lipa is on the loud speakers and Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame is on the big board at Kroger Field. Still no movement on the field. We should be hearing something about a potential warm-up time shortly.

8:10 UPDATE: The views from the pressbox are great for lightning-watching. We just saw about nine bolts flash northwest of downtown. Sit back, folks. We’re going to be here awhile.

8:04 NOT GREAT UPDATE: Fans are leaving their seats and walking out to the concourses. UK officials say players plan on returning to the field for warm-ups at 8:20 pm EST. That might be wishful thinking. There are lightning strikes visible far off in the distance. The lightning delay continues.

7:45: WE HAVE A POSITIVE UPDATE: UK announced the lightning delay will end and the ball will be kicked off at 8:15 pm EST. Kentucky football season is here.

It’s not Football Time in the Bluegrass. Kentucky was set to kick off the 2024 season at 7:45 pm EST on the SEC Network. The funny thing about plans is they have a way of changing.

The Kentucky vs. Southern Miss game has been in a lightning delay since two hours before kickoff. It forced UK to move the Cat Walk inside.

University officials announced we remain in a rain delay. A start time has not been shared, but KSR’s Matt Jones is hearing that could be approximately 8:30 pm EST.

Every time lightning strikes within an 8-mile radius of Kroger Field, we must wait 30 minutes before players can return to the playing field. Neither team ever started warm-ups. Fans were allowed to enter their seats at approximately 7:35 pm EST. Even though precipitation is not currently falling at Kroger Field, Kentucky fans may have to wait for more than an hour until the game can finally kick off.

It has been bone dry across the Bluegrass for weeks, but like so many other places across the country, inclement weather is creating untimely lightning delays. West Virginia started playing Penn State at noon. That game did not end until 5:49 pm. South Carolina went into a lightning delay in the second quarter against Old Dominion. Virginia is currently in the middle of a second-quarter lightning delay with a 20-7 lead over Richmond.

Kentucky Football game threads can be found exclusively at KSR+

You can also keep up with the game and chat with other fans on our game thread on KSBoard, with Nick Roush, Adam Luckett, and Drew Franklin providing updates from Kroger Field and the rest of us from our couches at home. Join the party and maximize your UK sports coverage in the most ridiculous manner possible.

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2025-08-02