Kentucky Football Closes 2023 with Road Trips and Alabama on Senior Day

My final post of the series that breaks down the Kentucky Football schedule by four-game stretches includes the close-out to the 2023 regular season. The Cats’ first four should deliver a 4-0 start before a challenging middle series of contests. The last set of matchups features three road games and a home contest against Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Things could get interesting in November. 

November 4: At Mississippi State

Man, losing the Pirate was devastating to the Bulldog Nation and all of college football. The former Kentucky offensive coordinator was a legend and a unique blend of personality and genius. Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett was named as Leach’s replacement. It appears that Arnett will steer away from the Air Raid offense after the hiring of Kevin Barbay. The new Bulldog play caller inherits quarterback Will Rogers and a threatening collection of pass catchers. Barbay’s scheme is more balanced and features a plethora of personnel groupings, motions, and formations for the run game. 

Arnett’s 3-3-5 defense has posed problems for Kentucky throughout the years. But, last season’s 27-17 win over MSU was the Wildcats’ best outing of the season. Winning in Starkville is not easy. The cowbells will ring loudly as they normally do on fall Saturdays. A win there could be critical for the Cats’ postseason plans. 

November 11: Alabama

Normally the Cats beat up on a non-conference opponent, Vanderbilt, or Louisville in the home finale. Not this year. The Alabama Crimson Tide will come calling on November 11. Senior Day against Alabama has a strange ring to it. 

Nick Saban is fresh off signing the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. Shocker, I know. Quarterback Bryce Young is heading to the NFL along with the highly talented Edge Defender Will Anderson. Don’t fret for GOAT, the Tide will have a reloaded two-deep for its trip to Lexington and should be in the Playoff hunt. 

Saban’s coordinator hires have led to some mixed reviews amongst the Tide’s vocal fanatics. Notre Dame’s Tommy Rees exits the friendly confines of calling plays against feeble ACC defenses and other finesse challengers to go toe-to-toe against the nation’s top units on a weekly basis. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is a SEC veteran that has worked with Saban before. That should give him an advantage. Well that, and having multiple all-stars on the roster. Unlike some other high profile coaches, Saban has been adaptive in terms of scheme and coaching philosophies in his recent hires.  

November 18: At South Carolina 

Well, it’s now hard to make fun of South Carolina. The annual preseason media darlings had a nice run in 2022. The 2023 preseason could get unbearable. Shane Beamer has re-energized the program’s publicity machine and is winning games. One of those victories was a 24-14 win over Kentucky in Lexington. The Cats pitched a dud against the Gamecocks. Will Levis did not play in that contest but that’s no excuse. The Wildcat defense tackled poorly on that night as well. 

The Gamecocks return quarterback Spencer Rattler. He’s joined by a reconstructed skill group. Rattler will have a new play caller in Dowell Loggains. The former Arkansas tight ends coach inherits a favorable situation in Columbia. That stadium is loud and intense. This could be a tough one for the Cats. 

November 25: At Louisville 

Scott Satterfield and his vehement disliking of the “Ls down” hand gesture departed for Cincinnati. Enter the long awaited and coveted return of Carinal legend Jeff Brohm. That has to be considered a win-win for our neighbors to the west. Brohm has recruited well and the Cardinals have enjoyed success via the Portal. It feels like Brohm has a plan now that an adult is in charge of that program. 

The Governor’s Cup has been a one-sided affair as of late.  Kentucky recently ripped off four consecutive victories by an average score of 45-14. UK beat UofL 26-13 last season. The Brohms will re-energize that side of the heated rivalry which could lead to a more competitive game. Expect Pappa John’s, or whatever that stadium is called now, to be rocking on November 25th. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Three November road games and Bama at home will be challenging for the 2023 Wildcats. SEC road contests are extremely difficult. Kentucky has to travel to two of the loudest and craziest stadiums in the league in South Carolina and Mississippi State. Louisville should be vastly improved under Jeff Brohm which will bring on a sense of uneasiness amongst the BBN to close out the season. Add in a home game against Alabama and you get an arduous finish to the season.