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Predicting Kentucky’s 2025 Record

Hello, everyone. It’s finally here. That’s right, the most wonderful time of the year, college football season is upon us. For the Kentucky Wildcats, it’s a new day and a chance to move past a forgettable 4-8 campaign. If Mark Stoops wants to get the Cats back to a bowl, they’ll have to earn it. ESPN ranks the Wildcats’ slate as the seventh toughest in college football. Speaking of scheduling, this is the last year Kentucky will look like this. Last week, the league finally went to a nine-game schedule starting next season. That’s something the school has been against. We’ll worry about 2026 next year. For now, let’s break out the Crystal Ball and see how we think it plays out as we are predicting Kentucky’s 2025 record.

Cats Face A Difficult Slate

On Upset Alert?

August 30th- Toledo– Kentucky’s annual opener against the Mid-American Conference is certainly no cupcake. In fact, many national pundits have the Cats on upset alert. The reason is that coach Jason Candle’s team is the favorite to win the league. In addition, some believe they have an outside chance at the playoffs. Stoops has never lost to a MAC squad and won’t here despite a huge battle.
Kentucky 28-24     UK 1-0  0-0 SEC

Two In A Row?

September 6th- Ole Miss– Last season’s high-water mark came in the upset win in Oxford. In fact, that loss likely kept Lane Kiffin’s squad out of the playoff. Ole Miss looks to have some drop-off from last season. As a result, there are many who think UK can make it two in a row over the Rebels. However, we aren’t quite sold.

Ole Miss 27-20   UK 1-1  0-1 SEC

Keeping The Streak Going

September 13th- Eastern Michigan– The Wildcats are 2-0 all-time against the Eagles, winning in 2017 and 2019. Chris Creighton’s club went 5-7 last year, and Kentucky should have a much easier time in this one as opposed to the first instance of “MACtion.”

Kentucky 31- 14   UK 2-1  0-1 SEC

We’re one quarter of the way through Predicting Kentucky’s 2025 Record. As we move forward, business really starts to pick up.

Quite The Gauntlet

September 27th- At South Carolina– Following the season’s first bye week, the Cats hit the road to Columbia. Kentucky dominated the series over the last decade, winning seven of eight from 2014 to 2021. However, since then, Shane Beamer’s squad has won the last three, including a 31-6 drubbing in Lexington. With the sounds of “Sandstorm” blaring in your ears, the Gamecocks make it four straight.

South Carolina 27-13   UK 2-2 0-2 SEC

October 4th- At Georgia- The Bulldogs have won 15 in a row in this series. Kentucky’s last win came in Athens back in 2009. A season ago UK had arguably its best chance to break the streak. However, the Cats couldn’t get it done late. This one likely won’t be that close.

Georgia 38-14    UK 2-3   0-3 SEC

October 18th- Texas- Following the second bye week, the Longhorns come to Lexington for the first time ever. Steve Sarkisian’s squad has major national title aspirations. Behind Arch Manning, the Longhorns pick up an easy win.

Texas 42-17     UK 2-4    0-4 SEC

October 25th- Tennessee– Keeping with the orange trend, Josh Heupel’s Volunteers make the trek up Interstate 75. UT has won four in a row in the series after Kentucky won in 2020. However, the margins in the last four games in Lexington have all been six points or less. Look for another close one with the Big Orange again reigning supreme.

Tennessee  28-24   UK 2-5   0-5 SEC

Let’s head to our next set of games, Predicting Kentucky’s 2025 Record, and see if there are some wins on the horizon.
Photo Credit: Caitie McMekin/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

It’s Been A Long Time

November 1st- At Auburn- Much like Georgia, the last time Kentucky beat the Tigers was 2009. Since then, Auburn has won four straight, including a domination of the Cats a year ago. Stoops always seems to pull an upset during the year, and we think it’s going to be against Auburn.

Kentucky 21-17    UK 3-5   1-5 SEC

Keeping The Streak Going

November 8th- Florida- After years of being dominated, Kentucky has had a great deal of success recently against the Gators. The Cats have won four of their last seven games and have won two straight in Lexington. However, this year, led by quarterback DJ Lagway , Billy Napier’s club got the win.

Florida 28-20   UK 3-6   1-6 SEC

Hitting The Homestretch

November 15th- Tennessee Tech- Following six straight conference games, the Wildcats host the Golden Eagles. Stoops has never lost to an FCS team and shouldn’t here either. This is one where you hope to give the younger players on the squad some playing time.

Kentucky 48- 14   UK 4-6   1-6 SEC

November 22nd- at Vanderbilt- Led by Diego Pavia, the Commodores were one of the surprise teams in college football last year. While the Cats have lost two in a row at home to Clark Lea’s squad, they haven’t lost in Nashville since 2015. They won’t lose this one either.

Kentucky 27-23   UK 5-6  2-6 SEC

Let’s wrap up our predictions for Kentucky’s 2025 record with the “Battle For The Governor’s Cup.”

Kicked Up A Notch

November 29th- at Louisville- Last season, Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals took back the Governor’s Cup for the first time since 2017. The rivalry between the schools got even more juice when longtime Kentucky assistant Vince Marrow left Kentucky for Louisville. Look for this year’s game to be much closer, but in the end, the Cards keep the cup.

Louisville 34-23   UK  5-7  2-6 SEC

There you have it, we are picking the Cats to finish 5-7 and 2-6 in the league. That means for the second straight year UK is staying home for the holidays. Whether another losing season makes the SEC’s elder statesmen’s seat any hotter remains to be seen.
Do you agree or disagree with our choices predicting Kentucky’s 2025 record? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Main Photo: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

About Kevin McGuffey

Kevin lives in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife Dr. Rachel McGuffey and two kids Ryan and Mary Beth. He can be heard talking SEC Football with "The Voice Of College Football" Mark Rogers. He is on the committee for the Biletnikoff Award choosing the nation's most outstanding receiver. He is a fan of Kentucky football and basketball along with the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Golden State Warriors. He can be reached via Twitter @KevinMcGuffey

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