Kentucky should 'cruise' to a bowl game, Phil Steele says

Kentucky football continues to gain respect nationally under Mark Stoops essentially building the program from the ground up. Analyst Phil Steele issued some praise of his own, including his own prediction on the Wildcats’ season outcome.

“This year 15 starters are back and they are #64 on my Exp Chart and most indicators are pointing up with an improved offense and special teams,” Steele said. “They should open a strong 4-0 this year but the final 8 games are tough. The Cats should cruise to their eighth straight bowl game and will make things interesting in the SEC East.”

Eight bowl games could have easily been 10 if not for a single play that determined their fate in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. After a handful of mid-tier bowl games, and a Citrus Bowl win in 2019 that saw UK win 10 games in a single season, the ‘Cats got off to their best start in over 70 years going 6-0 to begin 2021.

Wins during that stretch saw Kentucky pick up upset victories against Florida and LSU and were ranked as high as No. 11 in that year’s AP Poll. They dropped three-straight games before winning their final four, giving them another 10-win season and a second Citrus Bowl win in four years and finished second in the SEC East to Georgia.

In 2022, UK’s start to the year was just as promising — but things took a turn for the worse in a flash.

“Last year Cats fans beat me up all summer for having them #35 in my preseason rankings,” Steele said. “UK entered the season ranked (#20) for the first time since 1978 (4-6-1 that yr) and they opened
4-0 and #7 AP, but they went 3-6 and were not among the 40 teams that drew a vote in the final AP poll so maybe I had them a little too high.”

Steele might’ve gotten the last laugh on the 2022 Wildcats, but this season’s squad is more experienced and is led by star transfer quarterback Devin Leary. Wideouts Dane Key and Barion Brown combined for 87 receptions, 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns as true freshmen last season and look to be one of the most dynamic WR duos in the SEC.

With Kentucky returning all but six of their 22 starters, Kentucky’s defense, who finished top-five in the country statistically last season, is expected to remain within college football’s elite during the 2023 season.