Kentucky vs. EKU: Preview, Point Spread, How To Watch, and More

DrewFranklinKSR

kentucky-eastern-kentucky-tv-spread-preview — Photo by KSR

Today, college football returns to Kroger Field with a non-conference game between neighboring public universities in Central Kentucky. It’s the Kentucky Wildcats (1-0, 0-0) versus the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0-1, 0-0), and it gets underway at 3 p.m. in Lexington and “on the computer,” as Freddie Maggard says.

Here’s everything you need to know about Week 2 in Lexington.

How To Watch

Today’s 3 p.m. game between Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky is not televised, only streamed via ESPN+ or SEC Network+, the digital-only platforms accessed through an internet browser or the ESPN App. That means you won’t be able to watch the game on traditional TV; you will only be able to see it on smartphones, tablets, TV-connected devices, or via espn.com/watch.

It’s better explained here if you don’t understand.

TV: n/a

Streaming: ESPN+ / SECNetwork+

Play-by-play, Peter Sousa
Analysis, Takeo Spikes

Radio: UK Sports Network | Statewide Affiliate Map

Play-by-play, Tom Leach
Analysis, Jeff Piecoro
Sideline, Dick Gabriel

Join The Discussion (R.I.P. KSR Live Blog)

For the first time in over a decade, KSR will be without its in-game live blogs, a longtime tradition here on the blog. Unfortunately, the company that hosted the KSR live blogs no longer exists, so we are without the machine that made it all possible.

If you still want to interact with the KSR crew during the game, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard.

You can sound off about the game in the comments section below, too.

Kentucky’s Week 2 Depth Chart

Team Captains

Prior to the season-opener vs. Ball State, Mark Stoops named seven team captains:

Injury Report

KENTUCKY

— Kenneth Horsey is out for a couple of weeks with a lower leg injury suffered in Week 1.

— Reserve CB Jordan Robinson is once again OUT.

— Tre’vonn Rybka is back in action. Mark Stoops said he missed the week 1 game “for other reasons” (aka not an injury).

Out for the season
OL – Ben Christman (RS So.)
OL – Nik Hall (RS Fr.)
DB – Jaremiah Anglin (Fr.)

EASTERN KENTUCKY

— TBD

Five Pregame Storylines

New Left Guard

With Kenneth Horsey sidelined for the immediate future, Dylan Ray, a West Virginia transfer, steps forward for his first start as a Kentucky Wildcat. Last Saturday, Ray took over at left guard when Horsey suffered a first-half leg injury. Mark Stoops liked what he saw on tape (but not in real time). On Monday, Stoops said, “He played good. He played about like we thought he would. I had a lot of confidence in him going into it, and I was impressed with the way he played.”

Cleaning It Up

There was one consistent theme in the messaging out of Mark Stoops’ locker room this week: “clean it up.” Stoops and both of his coordinators said during their weekly interviews that they were proud of Kentucky’s fight, energy, and physicality last weekend, but the execution was disappointing.

“Mentally, they were ready to play,” said Stoops. “What we did not play was very clean…. It’s a fundamental game. We played hard, we played physical, we were not always fundamentally sound and that will bite us eventually.”

Top 10

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EKU’s All-Conference QB

Eastern Kentucky may be an FCS program, but quarterback Parker McKinney is a Division I talent who turned down Power 5 transfer offers last spring. McKinney was the ASUN Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a Walter Payton Award finalist a year ago, having thrown for nearly 4,000 yards with a 68.2 completion percentage and 33 touchdowns–all school records. He’s back for a sixth season and facing Kentucky’s SEC defense today.

Old Friends

Eastern Kentucky is coached by Walt Wells, a former quality control assistant at Kentucky in 2018 and 2019. Wells has rings from Kentucky’s Citrus and Belk Bowl victories during his time on Mark Stoops’ staff before taking over as head coach of the Colonels in 2020.

Wells’ EKU staff includes a couple of former Kentucky players. One of Mark Stoops’ first quarterbacks in Lexington, Maxwell Smith, coaches Eastern’s quarterbacks. Smith coached for three seasons at Kentucky as a grad assistant after his playing career concluded at San Diego State.

This past summer, former Kentucky tight end CJ Conrad took his first full-time coaching gig in Richmond. Conrad was hired away from his alma mater after three years as a graduate assistant and quality control coach. As a player, Conrad was a 2018 All-SEC selection with over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. He ranks second in TD receptions by a tight end in UK history.

Heroes Day

It’s Heroes Day in Lexington as Kentucky Football salutes those who serve our country. The Cats welcome several military, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services and government employees into Kroger Field with specially-priced tickets for today’s game.

Gamble

Point Spread (Opening Line): Kentucky -35.5
Over/Under: 62.5 points

Final Coaches Comments of the Week

Mark Stoops:

Walt Wells:

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Pregame Link Dump

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Cat Walk, Tailgate Pictures

It was another energetic Cat Walk this week as the Wildcats made their way through the Big Blue Nation and into the team’s locker room for pregame preparations. Dr. Michael Huang will have more from the scene shortly.