Kentucky Football is No. 20 in the Preseason AP Poll

For the first time since 1978 and only the fifth time in program history, your University of Kentucky Wildcats will start the season as a ranked football team. The Preseason AP Poll just dropped and the Cats are No. 20. Kentucky finished last season ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll.

Alabama is the No. 1 team in the country, followed by Ohio State and Georgia. In all, six SEC teams are ranked:

• 1. Alabama
• 3. Georgia
• 6. Texas A&M
• 19. Arkansas
• 20. Kentucky
• 21. Ole Miss

Tennessee is the first team out. LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina also received votes.

Preseason AP Top 25

RANK	TEAM	PV RANK	CONFERENCE	POINTS
1	Alabama (0-0)	2	SEC	1,566 (54)
2	Ohio State (0-0)	6	Big Ten	1,506 (6)
3	Georgia (0-0)	1	SEC	1,455 (3)
4	Clemson (0-0)	14	ACC	1,292
5	Notre Dame (0-0)	8	IA Independents	1,242
6	Texas A&M (0-0)	NR	SEC	1,212
7	Utah (0-0)	12	Pac-12	1,209
8	Michigan (0-0)	3	Big Ten	1,203
9	Oklahoma (0-0)	10	Big 12	956
10	Baylor (0-0)	5	Big 12	884
11	Oregon (0-0)	22	Pac-12	831
12	Oklahoma State (0-0)	7	Big 12	814
13	North Carolina State (0-0)	20	ACC	752
14	USC (0-0)	NR	Pac-12	711
15	Michigan State (0-0)	9	Big Ten	631
16	Miami (FL) (0-0)	NR	ACC	476
17	Pittsburgh (0-0)	13	ACC	383
18	Wisconsin (0-0)	NR	Big Ten	365
19	Arkansas (0-0)	21	SEC	348
20	Kentucky (0-0)	18	SEC	332
21	Ole Miss (0-0)	11	SEC	324
22	Wake Forest (0-0)	15	ACC	303
23	Cincinnati (0-0)	4	American Athletic	265
24	Houston (0-0)	17	American Athletic	263
25	BYU (0-0)	19	IA Independents	234

Others receiving votes: Tennessee 180, Texas 164, Iowa 163, Penn State 160, LSU 55, Fresno State 32, Minnesota 31, UCF 27, Purdue 17, Mississippi State 15, Auburn 15, Florida 14, Kansas State 14, North Carolina 9, Boise State 5, Air Force 4, Appalachian State 4, South Carolina 2, UCLA 2, San Diego State 2, Utah State 2, Nebraska 1

Kentucky No. 21 in Preseason Coaches Poll

Last Monday, the Preseason Coaches Poll was released and Kentucky came in at No. 21, the first time the Cats have ever been ranked by the coaches before the season. Six SEC teams made the Coaches Top 25:

• 1. Alabama
• 3. Georgia
• 7. Texas A&M
• 21. Kentucky
• 23. Arkansas
• 24. Ole Miss

Several more received votes, including Tennessee, Mississippi State, Florida, and South Carolina, who the Cats will face this season. Louisville also got one vote.

Kentucky Football hasn’t started and finished a season ranked in the Top 25 since Bear Bryant strolled the sidelines. Stoops is already poised to break Bryant’s record for all-time wins at Kentucky early this fall; now, with the Cats firmly in the Preseason Top 25, he’s got another streak to break if all goes according to plan.