The Final Prep: Previewing Kentucky vs. Ole Miss

The first real test of Kentucky Football‘s 2025 season comes Saturday afternoon at Kroger Field, where the Wildcats are a home underdog in Week 2. After opening with a win over Toledo, Kentucky now steps into Southeastern Conference play against No. 20 Ole Miss in front of a national audience on ABC. It’s the first league matchup of the year anywhere in the SEC, adding even more weight to an early-season showdown between two programs trying to remain unbeaten through two weeks.

Both teams handled their non-conference opponents last Saturday. Still, questions remain for Kentucky as new quarterback Zach Calzada and the offense continue to look for their rhythm, particularly in the passing game. On the visiting sideline, Lane Kiffin and his Rebels, fresh off a 63-7 win over Georgia State, are motivated and looking for payback after last year’s upset loss to Kentucky in Oxford.

It’s a chance for Mark Stoops’ team to answer some doubts, set the tone in the conference, and maintain an edge over Ole Miss in the recent series. Let’s talk more about Game 2 in Lexington below.

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Pregame Storylines

1. First SEC vs. SEC Clash of 2025: This is the first conference matchup of the season across the entire SEC. Both Kentucky and Ole Miss have a chance to grab an early edge in league play. SEC Nation should be in Lexington, but the network chose the Border War in Columbia, Missouri, instead.
2. Ole Miss Revenge: Ole Miss hasn’t forgotten last year’s unexpected loss in Oxford, when Kentucky spoiled the Rebels’ SEC opener. Lane Kiffin’s team arrives in Lexington with payback on its mind, making this matchup even more personal. Kiffin even admitted that Week 2 had their attention all summer.
3. Back to the Ground Game: Kentucky leaned on its running attack in the opener, piling up 220 rushing yards behind a revamped offensive line. That formula looked familiar to Big Blue Nation, and the Cats will need more of the same to control tempo against Ole Miss.
4. Calzada and Hamdan Under Pressure: Zach Calzada’s debut as Kentucky’s starting quarterback left plenty to be desired, with just 85 passing yards on 10 of 23 attempts against Toledo. Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan is also under the microscope as Kentucky searches for answers in the passing game. Against Ole Miss, the pressure is on for Calzada and Hamdan to show progress against an SEC defense.
5. New QB at Ole Miss: No longer a backup, redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons showed flashes of promise in his first start for Ole Miss, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia State. However, his two interceptions highlighted the growing pains of replacing Jaxson Dart, and Kentucky’s defense will look to capitalize on any mistakes.
6. Grove Street’s Back: UK did not play Kroger Field’s anthem during the Week 1 win over Toledo, but “Grove St. Party” will return for the Ole Miss game.

How To Watch/Listen to Kentucky vs Ole Miss

• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
• TV: ABC (Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath)
• Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Online: iHeart Radio
• Sirius XM: 132 or 191 (UK)

Player Spotlight

• Kentucky QB, #5 Zach Calzada: The former Texas A&M starter played one of the worst games of his career against Ole Miss in 2021, so it’s a bounce-back opportunity for Calzada against the Rebels and after his 10-for-23, 85-yard debut in Lexington.
• Kentucky RB, #2 Dante Dowdell: Dowdell led Kentucky’s rushing attack in Week 1, running for 129 of Kentucky’s 220 yards on the ground. His 79-yarder, a career-high, put the win on ice in the fourth quarter.
• Kentucky LB, #3 Alex Afari Jr.: Taking on a bigger role in the middle of Kentucky’s defense, veteran Alex Afari Jr. recorded a career-high 13 tackles against Toledo, including two TFL and a sack.
• Ole Miss QB, #13 Austin Simmons: The Simmons era began with three TDs and two INTs on 19-32 passing for 341 yards against Georgia State. The RS sophomore has the keys to the new Ole Miss offense, taking over for Jaxson Dart.
• Ole Miss RB, #5 Kewan Lacy: A Mizzou transfer, Lacy rushed 16 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns in his Ole Miss debut. The touchdowns and the starting assignment were the first of his career.
• Ole Miss LB, #4 Suntarine Perkins: Perkins was an All-SEC linebacker as a sophomore, and returns in 2025 as a Chuck Bednarik Award candidate and NFL Draft prospect. He captains the defense.

Depth Charts

KENTUCKY

OLE MISS

Latest Injury News

On Wednesday, each team released its mandatory availability report, which showed mostly healthy rosters for Saturday. Both sides listed three players as out, with the Rebels missing the most significant contributor in tight end Luke Hasz, a projected starter who is out with a major ankle injury suffered in fall camp.

Updated availability reports will be released on Friday night.

Kentucky

• DL Nic Smith: Out
• WR David Washington Jr.: Out
• WR Preston Bowman: Out
• WR DJ Miller: Doubtful
• RB Jamarion Wilcox: Questionable
• OL Aba Selm: Questionable
• DE Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace: Probable
• CB DJ Waller Jr.: Probable

Ole Miss

• WR Caleb Cunningham: Out
• WR Traylon Ray: Out
• TE Luke Hasz: Out
• OL Terez Davis: Doubtful
• WR Samari Reed: Doubtful
• DB Jaylon Braxton: Questionable
• TE Dae’Quan Wright: Questionable
• CB Ricky Fletcher: Questionable
• CB Dante Core: Questionable
• OL Delano Townsend: Probable

Last Meeting / All-Time Series

Kentucky and Ole Miss have played three times in the last five seasons, after only seven meetings from 1994 to 2019. Last year, the Wildcats upset No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford, spoiling the Rebels’ early playoff hopes in 2024. The game was won with a 63-yard completion from Brock Vandagriff to Barion Brown on 4th-and-7 with under four minutes to go, setting up Kentucky’s game-winning touchdown two plays later. The win was the high point of Kentucky’s 2024 season.

Still, Ole Miss leads the all-time series, 29-14-1.

2025 Team Schedules/Results

Kentucky (1-0, 0-0)

• vs. Toledo (24-16, W)
• vs. (20) Ole Miss 
• vs. Eastern Michigan
• at (10) South Carolina
• at (4) Georgia
• vs. (7) Texas
• vs. (22) Tennessee
• at Auburn
• vs. (13) Florida
• vs. Tennessee Tech
• at Vanderbilt
• at Louisville

Ole Miss (1-0, 0-0)

• vs. Georgia State (63-7, W)
• @ Kentucky
• vs. Arkansas
• vs. Tulane
• vs. (3) LSU
• vs. Washington State
• @ (4) Georgia
• @ (18) Oklahoma
• vs. (10) South Carolina
• vs. The Citadel
• vs. (13) Florida
• @ Mississippi State

Join The Discussion over at KSBoard

Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard if you want to interact with the KSR crew during the game. A live discussion can be found in the game thread, plus several other topics and conversations about the Wildcats and more.

Point Spread

Point Spread: Ole Miss -8.5
Over/Under: 50.5
Moneyline: Miss -340/UK +270

Coaches’ Comments

Mark Stoops

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Lane Kiffin

Friday Link Dump

• Bio Blast: Ole Miss Rebels
• Mark Stoops: “Premature to pull the plug” on Zach Calzada despite shaky debut
• Mark Stoops focuses on the present as Kentucky’s SEC home losing streak lingers
• Mark Stoops makes push for preseason exhibitions: “It’s exhausting playing your own people.”
• Ole Miss’ offense still humming under new QB Austin Simmons
• Kentucky solved short-yardage issues in Week 1
• No Changes in the Kentucky Football Depth Chart
• Spend Labor Day with the KSR Football Podcast for new Kentucky Football talk
• Paul Finebaum is the reason SEC Nation isn’t coming to Kentucky vs. Ole Miss
• WATCH: Brad White, Kentucky defense are ready for the Ole Miss tempo
• Kentucky defense wants to play full game after sour ending against Toledo
• Lane Kiffin knows better than to read too much into Kentucky’s struggles vs. Toledo
• How Ole Miss has performed under Lane Kiffin in revenge spots
• Zach Calzada can erase old Ole Miss memories on Saturday
• Razor-thin rivalry: The last four Kentucky-Ole Miss games decided by four plays
  

Weather Report

At last check, Saturday’s forecast has a high of 68 and a low of 49, with clouds above Kroger Field. We’re to be on the lookout for scattered showers, which could help Kentucky slow down Ole Miss’ tempo, but may dampen your tailgating or game experience. Pack a light jacket.

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Listen to the KSR Pregame Show

Start your Saturday by tuning into the KSR Pregame Show at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning, live from KSBar & Grille. Even better, be at KSBar & Grille before, during, or after the game.

Go Cats.