Will Levis addresses the big question: Is Kentucky a football school or basketball school?

Fresh off a win over then-No. 12 Florida in the Swamp and now ranked No. 9 nationally in the AP Top 25, Kentucky football is once again clawing for some respect. And the age old question of slow gridiron gains at a ‘basketball school’ like Kentucky have once again resurfaced.

If you’ve been around Big Blue Nation a bit this offseason, you’re probably well aware of the drama surrounding the debate.

If you’re haven’t been, here’s the long and short of it. Back on Aug. 11, hoops coach John Calipari made some comments that his team deserves a new practice facility because Kentucky is a basketball school, first and foremost. Football coach Mark Stoops did not take kindly to the comments, firing back and defending his program with some not-so-subtle digs.

So on Wednesday, fresh off that win over Florida and making an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, quarterback Will Levis was drawn into the fray by host Kevin Negandhi. He was asked directly whether Kentucky is now a football school or a basketball school.

To the UK quarterback’s credit, he opted not to choose violence.

“I think we can be both,” Levis said. “I knew about all of that drama that went down and I figured I’d just stay out of it, but why can’t we be an everything school?”

Can Kentucky be a football school and basketball school?

Look, there are no rules against being good at two major sports at one time.

To Stoops’ points during fall camp when he entered the fairly public feud with Calipari — albeit through media and public speaking engagements for both, not directly — the Wildcats’ football and basketball programs face wildly different circumstances.

Sure, they may compete at times for athletic department resources, but fans clearly like both teams.

Stoops’ team won 10 games in 2021, the second time his program had hit that mark in the last four seasons. The Wildcats had previously won 10 games only twice in school history, in 1977 (10-1) and in 1950 (11-1).

“I embrace and love the history of our basketball program. I’m proud of it. I love it,” Stoops said back in mid-August. “I didn’t have that history. We understand we’re creating it. I also know people want to win now. I also know it’s my responsibility to get to the postseason and win.”

So far, Levis, Stoops and the entire gridiron gang for the ‘Cats are doing their best to erase the football vs. basketball school argument altogether.

Kentucky is off to a 2-0 start on the football field, ranked No. 9 in the country and hungry to keep stringing together more results. Next up: Youngstown State at home.

For the football team, that is.

But there’s no reason you can’t enjoy other Kentucky sports, either, as Levis pointed out on SportsCenter Wednesday.

“We’ve got a great volleyball team, we’ve got a great track team, so many programs that make so many people at this university proud, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Levis said.