KSR GAMEDAY: Kentucky Kicks Off 2024 Season vs Southern Miss

We did it! The 2024 Kentucky football season is finally here. Rejoice, Big Blue Nation! It’s hard to believe we’ve been without it for almost 250 days. Today we can once again say those six beautiful words: It’s Football Time in the Bluegrass.

The 2024 college football season is defined by big-picture changes. Conferences are bigger, the CFB Playoff is bigger, and the stakes have never been higher. The changes aren’t immune to Mark Stoops’ program.

For the fifth straight season-opener, Kentucky is breaking in a new play-caller. Bush Hamdan will be in the booth, back in the SEC after initially working on Eli Drinkwitz’s staff with Ja’Mori Maclin. The wide receiver is one of 13 transfers into the program, highlighted by a pair of former Georgia Bulldogs, QB Brock Vandagriff and LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson.

What are the National Champs bringing to Lexington? How will the new offensive coordinator mesh with the former five-star quarterback? Can the Kentucky offensive line open running lanes, even without RB Chip Trayanum? Can we believe the hype around the Kentucky defense?

Big Blue Nation has spent all summer asking questions about the Kentucky football team. The Wildcats have an opportunity to answer them tonight at Kroger Field against Southern Miss.

How to Watch, Listen to Kentucky vs. Alabama

Just like the smell of charcoal grills and the crisp fall air, prepare to be wrapped in football nostalgia when the SEC Saturday Night crew comes to town. It’s the same terrific trio — Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic — on the SEC Network, but at a slightly different time, 7:45 pm EST (although, I’ve been told kickoff may not happen until ten minutes after the broadcast begins).

If you can’t attend the game or stream the Cats, you can always listen to the Voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leach, and Jeff Piecoro.

• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Satellite: Sirius 134 or 191

Wagering Menu and Trends for the Kentucky Season-Opener

Money appears to be coming in for Southern Miss. The big number has dropped to Kentucky -26.5 with a total of 49.5. Vegas is estimating a final score of about 37-10. As of Saturday morning, you can bet the Golden Eagles to score 10 points or less with -120 juice. Interesting.

Even though many folks will tell you that Mark Stoops struggles to cover high point spreads against inferior opponents, that’s not the case, particularly in season-openers. Kentucky has covered the spread in four straight season-opening games as double-digit favorites. The Wildcats are 12-3-1 ATS over the last 16 non-conference games. You can find more week one wagering trends on KSBoard.

Saturday Gameday Schedule

Folks, it’s finally here. You know the drill, but there are some subtle changes to the gameday operation at Kroger Field. Refresh yourself on the clear bag policy, where to find beer in the stadium, its parking maps, and much more.

8 am — Kroger Field Tailgate Lots Open
3:30 — The KSR Pregame Show LIVE from KSBar and Grille
5:30 — Cat Walk
7:35 — Pregame Light Show
7:45 — SEC Network Broadcast Begins

Make sure this is on your calendar for next week’s game. Club Blue is hosting a tailgate before the South Carolina game for members. The Men’s basketball team and coaching staff will be there to interact and tailgate with Club Blue members. Tailgate is 1pm – 3pm. Club Blue members will receive invitations via email or text to register.  Space is limited, so while free, registration is first come / first serve until sports are full.  So members will need to keep on eye open for the invitation. Anyone who signs up to become a Club Blue member over the next few days will be eligible for an invitation. Club Blue is the official collective partner of the University of Kentucky. Subscribe today at www.clubbluenil.com

First Kentucky Uniform Combination

The color combination Jared Lorenzen regularly wore has become the standard for home games at Kroger Field under Mark Stoops. Kentucky is opening the season with blue helmets, blue jerseys, and white pants. Southern Miss will be rocking black helmets with white jerseys and black pants on Saturday night.

Join KSR Plus! With a KSR Plus membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

Kentucky Football Pregame Prep

We’re packing a lot of posts into Kentucky Sports Radio dot com. You may have glossed over a few items that will certainly get you prepared for Kentucky vs. Southern Miss and help keep you occupied during the long wait to kickoff.

• Southern Miss Scouting Report (KSR+)
• Brock Vandagriff will get “pretty emotional” at Kroger Field
• History puts Kentucky on High Alert against Southern Miss
• 11 Personnel: Southern Miss Preview
• Kentucky Prepared to Answer Running Game Questions
• Most Important Individuals for Kentucky Football in 2024 (KSR+)
• Kentucky has Confidence in Bolstedered Secondary Depth
• KSR Staff Predictions
• Pigskin Preview: Week 1 Locks

Saturday’s College Football Schedule

Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt	Noon ET	ESPN
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia	Noon ET	ABC
UConn at Maryland	Noon ET	FS1
Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa	Noon ET	Big Ten Network
No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia	Noon ET	FOX
Chattanooga at No. 15 Tennessee	12:45pm ET	SEC Network
No. 19 Miami at Florida	3:30pm ET	ABC
Ohio at Syracuse	3:30pm ET	ACC Network
Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern	3:30pm ET	Big Ten Network
UTEP at Nebraska	3:30pm ET	FOX
FIU at Indiana	3:30pm ET	Big Ten Network
Akron at No. 2 Ohio State	3:30pm ET	CBS
Colorado State at No. 4 Texas	3:30pm ET	ESPN
Old Dominion at South Carolina	4:15pm ET	SEC Network
WKU at No. 5 Alabama	7:00pm ET	ESPN
UCLA at Hawaii	7:30pm ET	CBS
Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan	7:30pm ET	NBC
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M	7:30pm ET	ABC
Southern Miss at Kentucky	7:45pm ET	SEC Network
Georgia State at Georgia Tech	8:00pm ET	ACC Network
New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona	10:30pm ET	ESPN
Wyoming at Arizona State	10:30pm ET	FS1

Hear from a Kentucky Assistant on Sources Say

I know all eyes are on football today, but if you need to diversify your portfolio with a little Wildcat basketball action, Sources Say has you covered. New assistant coach Jason Hart joined the program to provide an informal introduction to Big Blue Nation.

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