Kentucky Wildcats 2024 Season Preview
Can Mark Stoops and Company make a splash in the SEC?
Going into the 2024 season the Wildcats have a new feel to them. Led by projected First-round pick Deone Walker on Defense, the Cats have many returning players, such as Maxwell Harriston and J.J Weaver, who will make a big impact. This Unit will look to be a force for the Cats this season trying to slow down the hot-shot offenses of the SEC.
The Cats are filled with transfers on the other side of the ball. Former Georgia Bulldog Brock Vandergriff will be taking over at Quarterback as the Cats look to find success from the portal again after adding Will Levis and Devin Leary in previous seasons. He'll have plenty of weapons to let the ball fly to in all-around speedster Barion Brown, and 3rd year starter Dane Key. This Offense has the potential to be explosive and cause chaos for opposing defenses.
Week 1: Vs. Southern Miss
Final Score: 45-10 Wildcats
The Cats open the season with Southern Mississippi, a talented non-power 5 team that can compete with the big dawgs. Kentucky is going to be too much for the Golden Eagles, more than likely relying on that stifling defense and letting the offense be explosive here in week one. Cats get the win and move on to SEC play.
Week 2: Vs. South Carolina
Final Score: 35-20 Wildcats
SEC play opens early this year with the Cats taking on the Gamecocks in week 2 in Lexington. This South Carolina team is young and it may be a year or two away from being a contender in the SEC. Led by new QB Lanorris Sellers and College Football 25 the video game star Nyck Harbor. The Cocks have a lot of talent but they are young and inexperienced. The Cats have the experience and weapons to win this game easily as they begin SEC play strong.
Week 3: Vs. Georgia
Final Score: 28-17 Bulldogs
To be the best you have to beat the best, and Georgia is the best College Football program in the country. The Cats have the weapons needed to beat Georgia, including former Bulldog Vandergriff who could be a key part in the Wildcat's success against the Dogs. This won't be the case as they do not have enough to beat them this early in the year. The Cats will fall here and look to improve on their .500 start in the SEC
Week 4: Vs. Ohio
Final Score: 40-14 Wildcats
Looking to bounce back after a tough home loss to Georgia, the Cats get Ohio to come to town for a non-conference matchup. This is a great spot for this game as it can renew the confidence of the team before they head down south to the world of Hotty Toddy. The Cats will dominate this game showing why they are dangerous in the SEC.
Week 5: @ Ole Miss
Final score 31-20 Rebels
Oxford Mississippi is home to the Ole Miss. The Rebels will more than likely still be a top-5 team. This is a tough matchup for the Cats, and most UK fans will see this as a must-win game if they want any chance at the 12-team playoff. Jaxson Dart will look to utilize his plethora of top wideouts in this matchup. The Cats are unlikely to slow them down, falling to 3-2 on the season losing to two top-10 opponents.
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Vs. Vanderbilt
Final Score: 42-24 Wildcats
The schedule gets a bit easier after having to play two top-5 teams in three weeks. The Cats will host Vandy and look to turn the season around. Vanderbilt is not known as a football school and has barely been able to compete in the SEC. The Cats win with ease here and look ahead to go on a run to the new College Football Playoff.
Week 8: @ Florida
Final Score: 24-14 Wildcats
The Cats head down to the Swamp to face off against one of their biggest Rivals. Kentucky has won this game 3 years in a row and will look to continue that trend here in week 8. Florida has one of the country's hardest schedules, so they just won't be rested enough in this spot. With the thrashing Florida is going to take week in and week out, they won't be healthy enough or confident enough to knock off a surging Wildcats team.
Week 9: Vs. Auburn
Final Score: 21-10 Wildcats
This is a great test for Kentucky. Auburn has been a powerhouse in the SEC for the past decade but has fallen off more recently. Things are changing this year as Auburn seems to be a more middle-of-the-pack team. The Cats get this one at home, which will be huge for them as they look to make it three in a row following the bye. Kentucky will continue to stay hot making a late-season push.
Week 10: @ Tennessee
Final Score 35-34 Wildcats
There is not a person who wears Kentucky Blue that can stand the sight of Tennessee. The Cats and the Vols have a fierce rivalry that has unfortunately been dominated by the team in orange. This year, the Vols are rebuilding, and feature a new QB and many skill position players. The Cats are hot, and with big wins against Auburn and Florida, they'll sneak this one out in a barn burner of a game. This will be an instant classic, with the Cats making a big defensive stop late in the game to keep Tennessee from winning.
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: Vs. Murray State
Final Score: 42-7 Wildcats
Following a Bye, the Cats are looking to make moves and continue their success late in the year. Murray State is not on the same level as they are and it will show in this game. Vandergriff will continue his dark horse Heisman campaign in a dominating win over the Racers.
Week 13: @ Texas
Final Score 35-14 Longhorns
This is the game of the year for the Cats. If they could knock off Texas in Austin they would make a very strong argument as to why they should be in the 12-team College Football Playoff. That is not going to happen. Texas is arguably the best team in the Country and just has too many weapons all over the field. The Cats will keep it close in the first half but ultimately fall short of their goals.
Week 14: Vs. Louisville
Final Score: 35-24 Wildcats
Its LOSERVILLE. There's not much else to say. The Cats own the Cards in every sport and the Governors Cup will return to Lexington once again. L's Down.
Overall Season Projection: 9-3
The Cats have an outside shot at the newly expanded playoff format and have the schedule to pull it off. If they can win two of the four games they have against Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas, or Tennessee, and win the rest of their games they will have a strong argument to be in the playoff. This is going to be a 10-win team for Coach Stoops as he continues his great coaching career in the Blue Grass.