Kentucky Wildcats News: UK in the New College Football Rankings Roundup (UPDATE)

Update: It finally happened: The Kentucky Wildcats have officially cracked the top 25 for the first time under head coach Will Stein, coming in at No. 24 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. It marks the first time Kentucky has been in the AP Poll since October 8, 2023.

It also means Stein has made the top 25 after just four games as a head coach. It took Mark Stoops 66 games before he was finally able to pull Kentucky out of the bottom of the SEC and into the top 25.

Good times.

Not everyone is sold on Kentucky as a top-25 team just yet, as the latest Coaches Top 25 Poll has the Cats checking in at No. 27.

Fox Sports does not have Kentucky in its latest top 25.

CBS Sports also does not have the Cats ranked.

ESPN FPI has the Wildcats at No. 36 and South Carolina at No. 33.

ESPN’s SP+ rankings have the Cats down at No. 44 and South Carolina at No. 49.

DRatings have Kentucky at No. 35 and South Carolina at No. 56.

Do you think the Cats should be ranked heading into their matchup at South Carolina? If so, where should they be? Let us know down in the comments section!

————————————————————————————————————————————

Yesterday, Kentucky Football had a scary start in their eventual 45-21 blowout win over South Alabama.

The two teams were tied at halftime, but thanks to a second-half shutout by the UK defense and an offense that kept clicking, Kentucky came away with a solid win as they dive back headfirst into Southeastern Conference play.

Last Sunday, Kentucky football climbed the College Football Rankings thanks to their triumphant win on the road over No. 9 Texas A&M.

The Wildcats climbed all the way to No. 27 on the top-25 list and received 98 votes to be in the top 25, the second-most of any team outside the top 25.

In the Coaches Poll, Kentucky was at No. 30 coming into this past weekend while being listed at No. 36 in ESPN’s Football Power Index.

With yesterday’s win over South Alabama, they shouldn’t be in jeopardy of falling backward in the rankings. In fact, they may very well see a rise into the top 25 as a few teams hovering around the same position OR slightly ahead of the Wildcats lost this weekend.

In fact, On3’s Thomas Goldkamp put Kentucky at No. 25 in his latest rankings.

Kentucky got a bit of a reprieve this week after a couple tough games against Alabama and Texas A&M, stepping back into non-conference play for the weekend. It was easy going against South Alabama for Will Stein and his team, coming off the big win over the Aggies.

The Wildcats ran for 390 yards, with three different backs topping the 100-yard mark. Jason Patterson scored three times, while CJ Baxter and Jovantae Barnes both scored once. Kentucky gets a road trip to South Carolina next.

The rankings are set to come out later today, so let us know where you believe UK should be placed.

That type of speed combined with a big gap often leads to six points.

Kentucky gets a Wake-Up Call against South Alabama – KSR

Perfect storm of coming off a big win with SC next weekend.

Favored Florida uses strong ground game to beat Ole Miss – ESPN

The Gators look to be for real.

CJ Baxter was happier for his fellow running backs than himself – KSR

They were the two headed monster yesterday.

Iowa tops Michigan with last-second TD – ESPN

Such an insane finish on Saturday.

Kentucky Offensive Line Lets the Running Backs Shine – KSR

It all starts upfront with the Big Blue Wall.

Oregon QB Dante Moore taken off by ambulance vs. USC – ESPN

Sending lots of prayers.

Injury Report: ‘Nothing major’ to report after UK’s win over South Alabama – KSR

Hoping to carry that status into next weekend.

Texas’ Colin Simmons apologizes for miming urinating on field – ESPN

It was a pretty wild thing to do.