Kentucky moves to No. 22 in Post-Spring CFB SP+ Rankings

Just 100 days remain until the first real Saturday of the 2023 college football season, September 2. And with three months and change remaining until Kentucky kicks off its season against Ball State inside Kroger Field, the Wildcats are currently listed as a top-25 program in the nation.

In ESPN’s complete post-spring college football SP+ rankings, Kentucky came in at No. 22 overall with an overall rating of 14.5. That’s good for No. 8 in the SEC and No. 4 in the East.

Maybe the most impressive part of it all? The Wildcats are projected to have the No. 5 defense in all of college football, behind only Iowa, Texas A&M, Georgia and Michigan.

Check out the complete rankings below:

1. Georgia (29.9)
2. Ohio State (29.6)
3. Michigan (29.2)
4. Alabama (27.9)
5. LSU (25.2)
6. Tennessee (23.9)
7. USC (23.6)
8. Penn State (23.5)
9. Texas (23.3)
10. Florida State (21.6)
11. Oregon (21.5)
12. Clemson (21.3)
13. Oklahoma (19.7)
14. Utah (19.4)
15. Notre Dame (19.3)
16. Texas A&M (18.8)
17. Washington (18.3)
18. Ole Miss (17.5)
19. Wisconsin (15.8)
20. TCU (15.8)
21. Florida (14.8)
22. Kentucky (14.5)
23. Kansas State (14.3)
24. UCLA (14.3)
25. Mississippi State (14.1)

Preseason projections are based on returning production, recent recruiting and recent history. SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of efficiency, predictive of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of the sport, simply a power ranking of current rosters and the overall health of the program.

Kentucky brings back 64% of returning production, good for No. 44 overall on offense (69%) and No. 78 overall on defense (58%). Factor in the Wildcats’ success in the portal on both sides, along with the coaching continuity with Mark Stoops and Brad White — plus the return of Liam Coen, obviously — the advanced metrics believe the program is in good shape going into 2023.

Do you agree?