It’s hard to believe we are already in the middle of July and SEC Media Days kicks off this week. That can mean only one thing, college football is almost here. For the Kentucky Wildcats and the rest of the SEC, it’s a new day with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas. That means an already daunting conference slate gets even tougher. UK’s hopes to balance that out winnable non-conference games. Today we’re going to rate each team 12-1 as we’re ranking Kentucky’s 2024 opponents.
Ranking Them From Easiest To Toughest
Games Kentucky Should Win
12. Murray State- November 16th- This will be the third time the Cats and Racers have met. Not surprisingly UK has won both previous meetings. The Wildcats won 37-6 in 2003 and 48-10 in 2018. This is that game where you hope to rest many of your starters before two huge games to end the year.
11. Southern Mississippi- August 31st- There’s some history concerning this match-up. Kentucky was originally supposed to play at Akron to start the year. However, UK swapped the game with Ohio State, where the Golden Eagles were playing. OSU is now hosting Akron. Southern Miss went 3-9 last year and the Cats should get off to a good start with a win.
10. Vanderbilt- October 12th- In three years in Nashville Clark Lea has gone 9-27 and is definitely on the perceived “hot seat.” Although, let’s not forget two years ago the Commodores came into Lexington and and upset Kentucky in one of Stoops’ worst losses. Lighting won’t strike twice here.
9. Ohio- September 21st– The Cats wrap up four straight home games to start 2024 with a visit from the Bobcats. Tim Albin’s squad went 10-3 last year winning the Myrtle Beach Bowl over Georgia Southern. True freshman Rickey Hunt had five total touchdowns in the game. UK is 4-2 all-time against the Bobcats and the games have been pretty close. This should be no exception.
The games get tougher as we continue ranking Kentucky’s 2024 opponents.
Still Winnable, But Tougher
Not too long ago we highlighted four games the Cats needed to win in order to have a successful season. As irony would have it, those are the next contests.
8. At Florida- October 19th- The poster child for “Coaches on the hot seat” is the Gators’ Billy Napier. He needs a big season to keep his job. On the other side of the ball Kentucky’s trying for something that hasn’t been done in 70 years, win four straight against Florida. Another loss to the Cats would really turn up the heat on Napier.
7. Auburn- October 26th- Kentucky has lost 18 of the last 19 to the Tigers with the only win coming on the road in 2009. Going a step further the last time UK won in Lexington was 1966. They came close in both 2010 and 2015 but couldn’t get over the hump. Stoops and the Cats need to get it done this year.
6. South Carolina- September 7th- From 2014-2021 the Wildcats won seven of eight from the Gamecocks. However, since then Shane Beamer’s club has rolled off two straight and in the process talked a lot of trash. If the Cats want a successful 2024 then this is a must-win.
5. Louisville- November 30th- You have to go back to 2017 to find the last time the Cardinals beat the Wildcats. Of course, in the COVID year of 2020, the schools didn’t play. A year ago Kentucky shocked the Cards on the road after coming in as a heavy underdog. Louisville’s getting better under Jeff Brohm but the Cats need to keep the cup in Lexington.
We won’t stop until we reach the top and that’s where we are headed as we finish ranking Kentucky’s 2024 opponents.
Looking To Breakthrough
4. At Tennessee- November 2nd- For all of Kentucky’s recent success in the SEC the Cats still haven’t figured out the Vols. UT won 26 straight against the Cats from 1985-2010 and more recently five of the last seven. While the Cats did win in Knoxville in 2020 this one is a tough uphill climb.
The next three teams on our list all have something in common. Last Word has each as a College Football Playoff team.
3. At Ole Miss- September 28th- Kentucky’s first road trip of the year is a Noon kickoff in Oxford. Led by Jaxson Dart and the nation’s top transfer portal class Lane Kiffin’s squad has eyes on an SEC title. Two years ago the Wildcats nearly upset the Rebels and would love nothing more this year.
2. At Texas- November 23rd- The SEC finale sees the Cats head to Austin for a meeting with one of the two new schools. UK and Texas have only met once, all the way back in 1951 with the Longhorns winning 7-6. Steve Sarkisin’s squad is a national title contender behind quarterback Quinn Ewers. Kentucky would like nothing more than to spoil those hopes.
1. Georgia- September 14th- New Wildcat quarterback Brock Vandagriff faces his former squad in this one. Kentucky hasn’t defeated the Bulldogs since 2009 and most of the games haven’t been close. Kirby Smart’s team is once again a national title contender and UK would love nothing more than to put a damper on it.
That’s our list ranking Kentucky’s 2024 opponents here at Last Word On College Football. What do you think? Who’s too high or low on our list? Let us know by sounding off on X.
