Kentucky Missouri Rivalry Game Nears Sell Out

Most people did not pencil in Kentucky vs. Missouri as one of the most important games of the year, but it’s certainly starting to feel that way. The Wildcats will head to a packed Faurot Field this Saturday for an 11 am ET kickoff against an SEC East rival that has produced plenty of close games in recent years. Only two of the last eight games between the two teams has been decided by more than 10 points.

“It’s going to be great to be home. I’m obviously excited about the fan support that we’ve received. (We’re) on track to have a near sell-out, which will be a great environment,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said on Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference.

“Obviously playing a quality SEC team that’s been ranked in the Top 25 for more most the season. Coach Stoops does an absolutely tremendous job as a head coach. Obviously, they’ve got one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country, one of the most talented running backs in the country. They got one of the best defenses in the country, so it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for our team. We got a lot of work cut out for us.”

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Wait, Rivalry Game? With Missouri?!?!!?

The anticipation is palpable for this budding rivalry between Kentucky and Missouri. If you don’t think it’s a rivalry, Missouri does. Their fans are still mad at Ahmad Wagner for drawing a pass interference penalty in 2018. They believe Barry Odom got hosed when Josh Allen knocked the ball out of a Tiger’s hands in 2017 to help precious seconds tick off the clock at Kroger Field.

Fans aren’t the only ones irked by the Big Blue. At SEC Media Days Martez Manuel called out the Cats, not Arkansas, as the Tigers’ biggest rival. “Kentucky, I hate that white and blue, I’m not gonna lie,” he told Aaron Gershon of The Cats Pause.

“That needs to be our new rival, honestly. There’s actually bad blood there. With Arkansas, we want to win that game, but I don’t hate them personally. That’s just me speaking, I’ve got nothing against those guys.”

Missouri DB Martez Manuel talks the UK/Missouri rivalry.

Says he dislikes Kentucky more than Arkansas 👀 pic.twitter.com/s4uSQweHGl

— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) July 18, 2022

The Big Blue Nation often scoffs at Missouri as the outsiders from the Midwest. While Kentucky has controlled the series, winning six of the last seven, that will change if the Cats are not prepared to play in front of a packed house at Faurot Field.