Kentucky picked to finish second to last in SEC by Phil Steele

We know morale in the Big Blue Nation isn’t great going into the 2025 Kentucky Football season, but how does the national media view the Cats? Phil Steele’s annual College Football Preview Magazine is out and includes predictions for each conference. Steele has Kentucky finishing 15th in the SEC, ahead of only Mississippi State. We’re not last!

In his write-up, Steele mentions Kentucky’s unfortunate SEC home record in the last few seasons (2-12 in the last 14 SEC home games) and the fact that only eight starters are back from last year’s team, which finished 15th in the SEC with a 1-7 conference record. As in Steele’s prediction for this year, only Mississippi State was worse.

“Mark Stoops got to eight straight bowl games after Kentucky had a stretch with six straight losing seasons,” Steele wrote. “In ’23, UK opened 5-0 with a 33-14 win over Florida but were just 3-5 in SEC play and -59 ypg. Last year they were +30 All Conf points returning. UK is just 2-12 in its last 14 SEC home games! They are 7-18 in the SEC since their 2021 Citrus Bowl win. This year they have just 8 starters back from last year’s team.”

Nearly 60% of this year’s roster is new, thanks to the transfer portal and high school ranks, but this season’s schedule would be tough for even the most veteran of squads. Kentucky plays Steele’s top two teams in the SEC, Georgia and Texas, back to back (thankfully, there is a bye week in between). Ole Miss, which is tied for seventh with Florida and Tennessee (also both on the schedule), comes to Lexington in week two, which is setting up to be a measuring stick game. Even the “easiest” SEC games on Kentucky’s schedule — South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt — all take place on the road.

Phil Steele’s Predicted SEC Order of Finish

1. Georgia Bulldogs (Oct. 4, Away)
2. Texas Longhorns (Oct. 18, Home)
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
T4. Oklahoma Sooners
T4. LSU Tigers
T4. Texas A&M Aggies
T7. Florida Gators (Nov. 8, Home)
T7. Ole Miss Rebels (Sep. 6, Home)
T7. Tennessee Volunteers (Oct. 25, Home)
T10. South Carolina Gamecocks (Sep. 27, Away)
T10. Auburn Tigers (Nov. 1, Away)
T12. Arkansas Razorbacks
T12. Missouri Tigers
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (Nov. 22, Away)
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs

In just a few weeks, we’ll find out what the league’s media thinks when they vote on the order of finish at SEC Media Days. Last year, Kentucky was picked to finish 11th, ahead of Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt. That would feel like a Herculean accomplishment this season.

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Four Wildcats make Phil Steele’s Preseason All-SEC Teams

Phil Steele wasn’t entirely down on the Cats; four made his Preseason All-SEC Teams:

• Aidan Laros, Punter, Second Team,
• Joshua Braun, Offensive Guard, Third Team
• Alex Wollschlaeger, Offensive Tackle, Third Team
• Alex Afari, Linebacker, Fourth Team   

Laros averaged 45.4 yards per punt last season with longs of 61 and 66 yards. He downed the ball inside the 20-yard line 11 times. Braun, a transfer from Arkansas, was a Second Team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press after the 2023 season. Wollschlaeger also earned all-conference honors at his previous school, Bowling Green (Second Team All-MAC, 2023). Expectations are big for Afari going into his senior season. Last year, he ranked third on the team in total tackles (62) and led the team in tackles for loss (11.0). Kentucky could certainly use an All-SEC type of season from Afari to climb out of the SEC cellar.