Kentucky football finishes No. 22 overall per SP+ rankings

On Saturday afternoon, Kentucky closed the book on the 2021 season with a victory over No. 15 Iowa. For the second time in four seasons, the Wildcats have recorded double-digit wins.

Now the debates can officially begin on which team was the best of the Mark Stoops era. Was it the one led by Josh Allen and Benny Snell Jr.? Or the latest Kentucky team paced by Josh Paschal and Wan’Dale Robinson?

Per Bill Connelly’s SP+ ratings, Kentucky’s 2021 team was the best of the Mark Stoops era.

On Monday, ESPN released the latest version of the ratings and Kentucky checks in at No. 22 overall. The offense had the program’s highest finish since 2007 as the Wildcats sit at No. 21. Defensively, Brad White’s unit was a top-40 defense for the third season in a row. In the third phase, the Wildcats finished inside the top-50.

Kentucky just wrapped up a historical season that should be remembered for a long time in the Bluegrass.

New standard for Kentucky football

For the second time in four seasons, Kentucky has put a top-25 product on the field. After having a top-notch defense in 2018, the Wildcats underwent an identity change on offense and became a top-25 unit in 2021.

That success on the field is leading to success on the recruiting trail. Mark Stoops is building a top 15-20 football program in Lexington. Thanks to recent results, a new bar has been set for the Big Blue.

“This is the standard, ten wins. That is what it is,” Robinson told the media after the Citrus Bowl. “Every year from now on, you want to win ten or more.”

Kentucky will now enter another offseason with a ton of momentum thanks to a thrilling bowl victory. The Wildcats now have a pair of coordinators making over a million dollars with a cornerstone piece at quarterback. However, the work doesn’t stop now. Kentucky must continue to push forward.

“This is the standard now,” said Will Levis. “We have to hold everyone else to the standard on the team.”

“Once these new guys and the recruiting class comes in, it is a great class, but we have to make sure they come in with a positive attitude and looking to learn and get better. Because, if they want to be a part of even a bigger step to the next level, whether it is a New Year’s Six Bowl game or College Football Playoff or SEC Championship, we need to take it up a notch.”

Kentucky is layering together consecutive good seasons and that is raising the ceiling for the football program. The data proves just that.

Now the goal is to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.