Kentucky Football ranked No. 23 in Way-Too-Early Top 25

The 2022 college football season is roughly eight months away, but it’s never too early to look ahead. That’s especially true when the Kentucky Wildcats are expected to take the field against Miami (OH) in the season-opener as a nationally ranked program.

On Sunday morning, Brett McMurphy of Action Network unveiled his “Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Rankings for 2022”, where he tabbed the Wildcats as the preseason No. 23 team. Kentucky finished the 2021 season with a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes.

UK is one of seven SEC schools ranked among the early Top 25.

No more waiting: here’s my 2022 Ridiculously Way Too Early Top 25 rankings for @ActionNetworkHQ. SEC has 7 teams, followed by Big Ten (6), ACC (3), Big 12 (3), Mountain West (2), Pac-12 (2), AAC (1) & Notre Damehttps://t.co/zjpwf0fjBj

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 9, 2022

This likely won’t be the last time Kentucky receives some preseason love ahead of the 2022 season. While the losses of Wan’Dale Robinson, Josh Paschal, and a couple of others will be a hit to the program, the return of quarterback Will Levis, plus the majority of the roster (hopefully including Chris Rodriguez Jr.), and the program’s all-time best incoming recruiting class will make the ‘Cats a trendy top 25 pick.

McMurphy highlights six different games on Kentucky’s 2022 schedule as ones to keep an eye on: @ Florida, vs. Northern Illinois, @ Ole Miss, vs. Mississippi State, @ Tennessee, and vs. Georgia. The 2022 Action Network Power Rating tabs UK at No. 44.

Action Network Way-Too-Early Top 25

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Texas A&M
5. Clemson
6. Wisconsin
7. Oklahoma
8. Oklahoma State
9. Wake Forest
10. Utah
11. Miami (FL)
12. Notre Dame
13. Baylor
14. Penn State
15. Arkansas
16. Oregon
17. Tennessee
18. LSU
19. Houston
20. Michigan
21. Iowa
22. Fresno State
23. Kentucky
24. Air Force
25. Nebraska

The Next 25 (alphabetical order): Arizona State, BYU, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, NC State, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, San Diego State, TCU, Texas, UAB, UCF, UCLA, USC, UTSA, West Virginia