Texas might be the best top-10 defense Kentucky has faced this season

Tennessee (No. 4), Ole Miss (No. 5), and Georgia (No. 8) are all top-10 defenses that Kentucky has faced, according to ESPN’s SP+ rankings. There is one more left on the schedule. Texas has a case to be the best defense that Kentucky has faced.

The Longhorns currently rank No. 2 overall in SP+ defense behind only Ohio State. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has built a dominant unit in year four on the Forty Acres. Texas currently ranks inside the top 10 in numerous defensive metrics.

• Yards Per Play: 3.95 (No. 1 overall)
• Yards Per Dropback: 4.56 (No. 1 overall)
• Points Per Drive: 0.93 (No. 2 overall)
• Havoc Rate: 15.3% (No. 2 overall)
• Success Rate: 35.4% (No. 7 overall)
• Yards Per Rush: 4.07 (No. 11 overall)

Georgia scored 30 points against this defense but only produced 283 offensive yards and had three scoring drives begin inside the Texas 35. Vanderbilt reached 24 points but no one else has gotten to 20 points against the Horns. Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Arkansas were all held under 14 points.

Kentucky enters this week ranked sub-100 in points per drive and has had issues creating explosive plays all season. Scoring points this week could be extra difficult playing against a Texas defense that is playing as good as anyone in college football in late November.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join the KSR Club.

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. Now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.

Take advantage of our KSR+ Introductory Offer to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including game threads, in-depth scouting reports, and the latest recruiting and roster intel. $1 for seven days and 50% off an entire year.