The Kentucky Wildcats sit at just 2-2 overall with a 0-2 record in conference play at this early point in the season, but they’re coming off their best game to date.
The Cats finally put together a good, all-around game against the Ohio Bobcats this past weekend. It hasn’t been that pretty all season long.
Kentucky opened up the 2024 season with a dominating win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, then lost two consecutive games thereafter. Kentucky was embarrassed by the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 2, before taking the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs down to the wire in Week 4.
Last weekend, Kentucky played its first full game with solid play on both sides of the ball. The Cats beat the Bobcats 41-6 while putting up season highs for points scored, passing yards, rushing yards, and first downs and a season-low in turnovers (0).
Of course, you have to take this game with a grain of salt due to the level of competition, but after a quirky Week 1 followed by two low-scoring affairs in Weeks 2 and 3, it was nice to see the offense get an opportunity to show something.
Brock Vandagriff wasn’t perfect, but he played by far his best game in blue and white as he created a beautiful connection with Dane Key. The duo both set career highs as Vandagriff threw for 237 yards and Key tallied 145 receiving yards. Gavin Wimsatt didn’t look too shabby in limited action, either.
The ground game, however, was clearly UK’s bread and butter. I think the Cats figured out an identity against Georgia, and they leaned on it in this one as well, albeit with a clear emphasis on getting the passing game going. Six Wildcats logged carries in this one, led by Jamarion Wilcox, who had eight carries for 82 yards, and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, who had 12 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Mark Stoops’ squad showed its dominance on defense once again. Other than the South Carolina game (a lot of the blame goes to the offense), the Cats have looked absolutely elite on the defensive side. The Bobcats managed just 223 total yards (6 points), and they turned the ball over twice.
Lots of young guys and walk-ons got to see action, and it was a fun game to get back into the win column. It was also the first time Kentucky had even scored a touchdown since August 31st, and the defense even scored one, too.
Kentucky’s reward for the impressive showing? Its first road game of the season against the No. 6 ranked Ole Miss Rebels.
Lane Kiffin’s squad is 4-0 on the season and they’ve been nothing short of a juggernaut. The Rebels have win of 76-0 over the Furman Paladins, 52-3 over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 40-6 over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and 52-13 over the Georgia Southern Eagles.
Rebel quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the entire country with more than 1,500 passing yards and is tied for third with 12 passing touchdowns (just two interceptions). Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish, Jr., is 13th in the country with 427 rushing yards and sixth with seven rushing touchdowns. Finally, wide receiver Tre Harris is second in the country in receiving yards with 628, third in receptions with 38, and tied for 10th with four receiving scores.
Obviously, the Rebel offense is hitting on all cylinders, as they’re first in the country in yards and points per game, but what’s scary is that the defense has been just as good. Ole Miss is first in points and rushing yards allowed per game and 12th in yards allowed per game.
The last time these two teams met was in Oxford just two seasons ago. The Cats fell 22-19 in a hard-fought game that Kentucky had every chance to win. I’m not so sure it’ll be as close this time around, but stranger things have happened! (See Georgia, Week 3).
Can Stoops save the season with a massive win over a top-10 opponent on the road?
Let us know in the poll below and in the comments section!
Poll
Predict the outcome of Kentucky (+17.5) vs. Ole Miss
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8%
Kentucky wins
(3 votes)
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32%
Ole Miss wins, but Kentucky covers
(11 votes)
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58%
Ole Miss wins and covers
(20 votes)
34 votes total Vote Now
Go Cats!