Kentucky Prepares for Rare Road Test at Ole Miss

The Big Blue Nation is preparing for a pilgrimage. Saturday’s game at Ole Miss will be Kentucky’s first trip to Oxford since 2010, inspiring thousands to make the trip to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for a matchup between Top 15 teams.

Like many Kentucky fans, this will be the first football game for Mark Stoops in Oxford. Even though the two programs are charter members of the SEC, this will be just the 11th time in 85 years the Wildcats have played in Ole Miss’ home stadium.

SEC Schedule Fix on the Horizon

There are a couple reasons why the game in Oxford is so rare. For much of Ole Miss’ history, the school played its home games at different locations. The Wildcats faced off against the Rebels six times in Jackson and five times in Memphis.

“I think somehow, someway, the schedule with the East and the West got a little screwy,” Mark Stoops said on Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference. “I think I’ve played Bama like four times and Ole Miss, we’ve played them twice but never there. So, looking forward to the trip.”

To use Stoops’ words, the schedule got a little screwy when the league added Texas A&M and Missouri in 2013. Kentucky has played A&M only once since the league expanded, and the Aggies still have not made the trip to Lexington. Stoops believes the problem facing foes from the other division over the last decade should diminish once the league expands to 16 in 2025.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that we’re gonna bridge that gap, we’re gonna fix that issue as far as playing opponents more often. There is no model we’ve been presented with that doesn’t fix that issue,” said Stoops.

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Rare Ranked Game Between Kentucky and Ole Miss

Kentucky enters the contest ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll, with Ole Miss not far behind at No. 14. The last meeting between these foes as ranked opponents was in 1958, a 27-6 victory for John Vaught’s Rebels in Memphis.

“For us it’s a matter, and I’m sure Lane feels the same way, which is, let’s try to stay there. Stay where we’re at or improve,” said Stoops. “Obviously it’s a big game for both of us. He’s done a fantastic job. They’re a very good, well-coached talented football team and so I imagine both of us are trying to like heck to stay there or improve and that comes with winning.”

To remain in the Top 10, Kentucky will have to leave Oxford with a victory, something that has not happened since 1978, a 24-17 win for Fran Curci’s Cats. 11 Personnel broke down what it will take for the Wildcats to win, and if all goes according to plan, the experienced Kentucky football team should be able to weather the storm in a hostile environment.