Kentucky Football History vs. Top-Ranked Teams

Saturday afternoon the No. 1 team in the country is coming to town. It’s the third-straight season Kentucky has faced off against a top-ranked team, yet it’s the first time the Wildcats have hosted the matchup. In Athens last fall Kentucky scored late in the fourth quarter to finish with a 30-13 final score.

This will be the 19th time Kentucky has faced a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. More than half of those meetings have taken place since 1996. This is the sixth time Mark Stoops has squared up against No. 1. Kentucky is 3-15 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.

The Wildcats actually won their first ever game against a top-ranked team. Oklahoma had not lost a game in three years, yet Bear Bryant had the perfect opening script. Babe Parilli connected with Wilbur Jamerson on the opening drive to take the lead and they never looked back. The Wildcats won the 1951 Sugar Bowl 13-7 in one of the most shocking upsets in college football history.

Kentucky got another crack at No. 1 the following season, but could not knock off Tennessee at Stoll Field. It took another decade for the Wildcats to take down another top-ranked team. Charlie Bradshaw’s Cats went to Jackson and Rick Kestner stole the show. The Kentucky wide receiver set school records by catching nine passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-21 win over No. 1 Ole Miss.

You probably remember the Wildcats’ most recent win over No. 1. Kentucky played a role in turning the chaotic 2007 season upside down. LSU led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Rich Brooks’ squad believed. Andre’ Woodson threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the third overtime to Stevie Johnson, to propel the Cats past the Tigers. Braxton Kelly stuffed the fourth down run to send Les Miles’ squad home with a 43-37 loss. LSU won the BCS National Championship, but they won not won in Lexington since 2002.

Recent Kentucky Football History with Georgia

Like the 2007 Tigers, Kentucky’s last two meetings with a top-ranked team were against the eventual National Champs. Alabama won it all in the Covid-plagued 2020 season, followed by Georgia last fall.

Mark Stoops is 0-9 against Georgia, but the Cats have covered in the last three meetings, now 3-3 ATS against Kirby Smart. Kentucky kept it within reach with Joey Gatewood at QB in 2020 and it was a scoreless tie at halftime in a soggy matchup between the hedges in 2019.

Georgia has not lost a game in Lexington since fans tore down the goalposts following 24-20 win in 2006 that started Rich Brooks’ most successful run as UK’s head coach. The last Kentucky win over Georgia featured four Bulldog turnovers and two Randall Cobb touchdowns in Athens back in 2009.