2024 Opponents Made Official
Ever since the news came Oklahoma and Texas were SEC bound one big question remained. How would the league handle scheduling with 16 teams? In addition, would the SEC follow many other leagues and go to nine conference games? In the end for 2024, it stayed at eight games but they eliminated the divisions. For the Kentucky football team that meant changes were coming. Let’s break it all down as Kentucky’s 2024 conference opponents are announced.
New Matchups For A New League
In an NFL-like made-for-TV event broadcast on the SEC Network, commissioner Greg Sankey announced who will play whom next year. The actual dates and times won’t be made official until later. However, at least they know who they are facing.
The league used a very complex and in-depth system. Actually, they said everyone will play either Oklahoma or Texas and went from there.
The Formula: How the 2024 SEC Conference Opponents were determined ⤵️#SECFB pic.twitter.com/h40TTXBr0Y
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) June 14, 2023
After running it through the Q47 Space Modulator here are Kentucky’s 2024 opponents:
Home: Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Away: Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas
Now that Kentucky’s 2024 Conference Opponents have been announced let’s break down some of the games.
Who’s Missing From The Schedule?
The first thing that jumps out is there’s no Missouri. Since the Tigers joined the SEC and were put in the east the schools had played every year since 2012. While Missouri won the first three the Wildcats had won seven of the last eight.
Another team missing from the schedule is Mississippi State. The two schools had been each other’s permanent opponents from the East and West respectively. As a result, the Cats and Dawgs had faced each other every year since 1990. All-time the series is tied at 25 wins each.
2024 will be the first season that @UKFootball will not play Alabama, LSU, or Mississippi State since 1948
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) June 14, 2023
Welcome To The SEC
Looking at the away games, the one that automatically draws attention is the road game against Texas. Originally Texas A&M was scheduled to finally visit Lexington in 2024 for the first time since joining the SEC. However, it’s the Longhorns Kentucky will face instead.
The two schools have only met once, all the way back in 1951. Bear Bryant’s Wildcats traveled to Austin and came out on the short end 7-6. Maybe in 2025, the Aggies will make it to Lexington.
Let’s finish our look as Kentucky’s 2024 opponents were announced with an overall look at the schedule.
Breaking Down The Entire Schedule
Other than losing the game with Missouri, the rest of the former SEC East appears on the docket. UK hosts Georgia, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt which is how things would have been under the old schedule.
Auburn comes to Lexington for the first time since 2015. The last time these two teams played was back in the COVID year of 2020 when the Cats lost 29-13. Auburn leads the all-time series 27-6 with one tie. In addition, Kentucky has only won once since 1967 and that was in 2009.
The road schedule certainly looks daunting as the Cats travel to Florida, Ole Miss, and Tennessee in addition to the battle against Texas. Kentucky just played in Oxford last year so a return trip that quickly seems a bit odd. On the other side of the ball UK’s won two of the last three in “The Swamp” including a ten-point win last year. The less said about the last trip to Knoxville the better.
By keeping the eight-game schedule the “Battle For The Governor’s Cup” season finale against Louisville lives for another year. In addition, UK kicks off the season at Akron on August 31st, then hosts Ohio University on September 21st and Murray State on November 16th.
Final Thoughts
Change is inevitable, especially in this age of college football. With two new teams coming in we knew schedules would change. Trading Auburn for Mississippi State is basically a wash while traveling to Texas rather than Missouri is considered a step up.
When the Cats start 2024 they’ll be breaking in a new quarterback. Mark Stoops brought in Devin Leary the top-ranked quarterback in the transfer portal for one year. Kentucky will have a new quarterback either Cutter Boley or Destin Wade, or it could be another QB from the portal. Whomever it is they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them.
Thanks for breaking it down with us as Kentucky’s 2024 conference opponents are announced. The 2023 season will be here before you know it and Last Word On College Football will get you ready for what should be another great year in Lexington.
Photo courtesy: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
