First Down Kentucky: Wildcats' Mentality vs. Ohio

by:Nick Roush•about 10 hours•

RoushKSR

This is not a website that frequently gives compliments to the Tennessee head football coach. Tonight, we will make an exception to that norm. The sentiment Josh Heupel shared a week ago is one that’s not so different than the approach Kentucky is taking ahead of its MAC matchup with Ohio.

Last week the Vols were beating Kent State by approximately 723 points at halftime. When Cole Cubelic approached the Tennessee coach before he went to the locker room, Heupel was laser-focused.

“Consistent competitors, elite competitors, you’re the same guy every single day. No matter who’s in the stands — 102,000 or nobody,” he said. “The opponent is nameless, it’s faceless.“

The last line felt like something from Game of Thrones. It may have been a little melodramatic, but the point is one Kentucky is taking this week. The Wildcats know Ohio has a proud football program. They’ll pack a punch with every hit at Kroger Field. But this week isn’t about Ohio, it’s all about Kentucky. They’re focused on putting the pieces together following a pair of losses at home.

“Treat every team the same because you can lose any day,” said linebacker D’Eryk Jackson.

“We’ve lost two back-to-back,” said JJ Weaver. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We could play Kentucky State, we’re still going to have the right mindset… Lock in, play every opponent like it’s Georgia.”

High Praise for Ohio Running Back

Anthony Tyus III has been incredible through three games in 2024. The Northwestern transfer rolled up Syracuse for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening loss. Even though the Kentucky run defense has been spectacular so far, Brad White is keeping his unit on their toes. The Kentucky defensive coordinator compared Tyus’ style to Adrian Peterson. Even though the Hall of Famer is on a different level, the two play a similar style.

“They’re just so hard to tackle. He’s got this unbelievable ability to one-cut that most long-legged guys don’t… He can put his foot in the ground and get vertical right now,” White said earlier this week.

Corey Peters Enters Kentucky Hall of Fame

Tonight six new Wildcats will be inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. Corey Peters is representing the football program. The All-SEC defensive tackle from Louisville revealed that he learned the news in the hospital shortly after his twins were born. Impeccable timing.

Former @UKFootball DT Corey Peters on being inducted into the @UKAthletics HOF pic.twitter.com/2SdExnMxT3
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) September 20, 2024

Excellent Trolling of the ACC

Mocking the ACC is a blast. I’d consider it one of my favorite hobbies. The Horned Frogs from TCU are doing just that before they play for the Iron Skillet against cross-town rival SMU.