Mark Stoops, Kentucky players turning focus to unbeaten Georgia

The Kentucky Wildcats are sticking true to their 24-hour rule after yet another big SEC win on Saturday. Mark Stoops and Co. took down LSU 42-21 but a much more consequential game lies ahead in Week 7.

No. 11 Kentucky will face Georgia in Athens as the Bulldogs come fresh off of a 34-10 win over Auburn.

“We just discussed it briefly, we said, ‘Enjoy it for a few hours, get some sleep,'” Stoops said post-game. “They know. Punch the clock on Monday. They need to rest up, heal up. Get some treatment and be ready to go for work.”

Kirby Smart‘s squad just overtook Alabama for the No. 1 spot in the polls on Sunday after the Crimson Tide took their first loss to Texas A&M.

“We know what we are playing for next weekend. We are ready,” running back Chris Rodriguez said Saturday night.

Rodriguez was just minutes removed from rushing for 147 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the victory over LSU and already thinking about Georgia.

“We got a 24-hour rule,” he continued. “It was a great win, but once the 24 hours is up, it’s on to the next.”

Linebacker DeAndre Square barely took 24 seconds, let alone 24 hours, before shifting his focus from LSU to Georgia. The senior out of Detroit is looking to capitalize on every moment he has left in the Blue and White.

“As soon as I sat in the locker room, I was already thinking about Georgia,” Square said. “I don’t know how much time I have here left and I don’t know if it’s the last chance so it’s a very important week. I’m already thinking about it.”

The Wildcats have what looks like their best chance to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2009 on Saturday. Both teams are undefeated but there’s no doubt Kentucky will enter Sanford Stadium as underdogs. The current line in Vegas is 22.5, in favor of the Bulldogs, according to VegasInsider.

Stoops: We want more

Undefeated through the first six weeks of the season, the Kentucky Wildcats have already clinched a postseason bowl berth. Afterward the win over LSU, Mark Stoops mentioned that while they’ll sell some t-shirts, his team is striving for more.

“My equipment manager TK said he put out some shirts and I think it’s a big push … bowl season campaign. They put them out today, so they got a new t-shirt,” said Stoops. “We want more.”

After defeating Florida and LSU in back-to-back weeks, the toughest test of them all is on the table for next week — the Georgia Bulldogs. If Kentucky can go on the road and upset Georgia, more could mean a trip to the College Football Playoff.

The Wildcats have run the gauntlet, coming out the other side smelling like roses. If they can somehow defeat Georgia, they don’t play another ranked team for the rest of the season.

ESPN CollegeGameday will be on the scene for the biggest game of Week 7. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.