By: Alec Nederveld
On October 13th, 2007, the No. 17 ranked Kentucky Wildcats beat No. 1 LSU in three overtimes. That was the last time Kentucky football defeated the top-ranked team. Kentucky has had eight chances since, ranging from complete blowouts to games where the Wildcats had a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
However, it hasn’t been done since. Maybe it was 2007 chaos. Maybe it was one of the best teams in program history. Maybe it was luck. Likely, it was a mix of all three. This game against Georgia looks like Kentucky’s best chance yet to beat another No. 1.
Yes, Georgia hasn’t lost a regular season game since capacities were limited to a pandemic. Yes, they are two-touchdown dogs going into Sanford Stadium at night – a death sentence for most teams. It will be difficult for the Wildcats, but a win here could flip a good program to a great one. If it does happen, here’s what could come next for them.
Kentucky will control their own destiny in the East
This is easily the most challenging test for Kentucky, especially on the road. This schedule is still arduous, but luckily the Wildcats get to host the other ranked divisional opponents, No. 21 Missouri and No. 22 Tennessee. The two have had some trouble in Lexington, Missouri hasn’t won there since 2013, and Kentucky has won two of six at home in the lopsided series with Tennessee.
Later, the Wildcats have to host No. 11 Alabama later in the year and travel to No. 25 Louisville for the Governor’s Cup, but these games aren’t as important. Alabama is in the west, while Louisville isn’t even in the SEC. Kentucky can lose those two games, but otherwise win out and play in Atlanta for the first time.
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Taking the program to the next level
When Kentucky beat LSU, they were in the second year of a five-year bowl game stretch, the longest in program history at the time. Now, Mark Stoops has an even longer bowl-game streak of seven seasons. However, neither stretch has brought Kentucky to a New Year’s Six/BCS Bowl, something that hasn’t been done since a 1993 trip to the Peach Bowl.
Barring a complete collapse, Kentucky would likely get back to one of these bowls. The goal at that point would still be winning the East, but let’s say the Wildcats finish 10-2 and just miss out on the SEC Championship Game. Alabama and Tennessee went 10-2 last year and played in the Sugar and Orange Bowls respectively. Kentucky would likely get their chance in an NY6 bowl.
Recruiting
Boy does it help your recruiting when you beat No. 1. Instead of promising a vision and great results for Kentucky, you can prove your method works over the last twenty-two teams who haven’t beaten Georgia.
According to the 247 Sports Composite, Kentucky finished with the 32nd best class in 2023 and currently is ranked 22 in 2024. That number will certainly go up with a Kentucky win, but there will be a bigger impact on the 2025 class. The class of 2024 is nearing completion and most top players have already committed, but 2025 is full of possibilities.
Legitimacy
Kentucky has been a feel-good story for a couple of years now. The mindset about their success is “Oh, look what Mark Stoops is doing at a basketball school, good for him.” 2022 was supposed to be the year for Kentucky. The team was ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1978, led by quarterback Will Levis. However, after a disappointing 7-6 finish, people stopped paying attention to Kentucky until after last week’s win over Florida.
Beating Georgia elevates your program to another level. Again, they haven’t lost in twenty-two games. You win this game, and the entire country has its eyes on Lexington, Kentucky. Not for basketball but for football. Win this game and the best season in school history may follow you.
