KSR Today: Prepare Your Best Blue for Kentucky Football

No need to get your Sunday best pressed. Now is the time to get your Caturday best ready for the final Kentucky football game at Kroger Field in 2023.

For just the fourth time since 1997, Alabama is playing Kentucky in Lexington. Alabama fans show up in full force to back the Crimson Tide. UK Athletics wants to combat it with a blue wave. The fine folks at the University of Kentucky are asking you to WEAR BLUE when the Wildcats take on the eighth-ranked team Saturday at noon ESPN.

Now only two more days stand between the Big Blue Nation and a potentially historic game. We’ve learned more about each team in the last 24 hours.

Two Injured Alabama Starters

Nick Saban may be without a couple of defensive starters against Kentucky. Deontae Lawson (ankle) is the team’s second leading tackler. Safety Jaylen Key (quad) suffered an injury against LSU. At least one Alabama website reports they will be joined by wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks on the sideline this Saturday.

Here’s what Saban had to say about Lawson and Key on Wednesday: “They haven’t been able to practice yet. It’s still kind of day-to-day. If guys can’t practice on Thursday, it’s pretty tough for them to (play) in the game. We’ll learn more tomorrow.”

Sign up for the KSR Newsletter to receive Kentucky Wildcats news in the most ridiculous manner possible.

Kentucky Defense Seizing Opportunity

The Kentucky defense got embarrassed in the middle of the season. They’re prepared to show the world that this defense is better than what they put on tape.

“Alabama is a big name,” defensive lineman Deone Walker said Wednesday night. “After the big loss to Georgia — that sad loss — we’re coming in, still trying to fix our legacy for this year.”

Hear more from Walker and defensive coordinator Brad White following Wednesday’s practice. Mark Stoops will have one final media opportunity Thursday evening before the Cats host the Crimson Tide.

Learn More About Alabama

If that doesn’t do the trick for you, I’ve got just what you need: a one-hour Alabama preview on 11 Personnel. We share a roadmap to success for the Cats and dismiss some myths about this Alabama football team. Luckett and I will return with more this afternoon in a new edition of Pigskin Preview.

1 Final Look at the Win over Mississippi State

It would be blogging malpractice if I didn’t share this excellent audio-visual entertainment with our wonderful audience. Sit back, relax and enjoy a fight out of the pit in Starkville.

2 New Kentucky Basketball Additions

The early signing period tipped off on Wednesday, marking the first day committed players can put pen to paper and make it official. Boogie Fland and Somto Cyril each joined the Big Blue Nation by signing National Letters of Intent. Now John Calipari can go on record to talk about these players, but for some reason he has not.

Hear from 2 Wildcats

John Calipari’s Kentucky basketball team will be back in action Friday night. Before the Cats take on Texas A&M-Commerce, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell will have a chat with various members of the media. You’ll be able to see everything they have to say this afternoon on the KSR YouTube Channel.

Thursday Night Football at KSBar

You’d have to pay me $500 to watch the Bears play the Panthers. Good news — KSBar is giving away $500 tonight to one lucky customer at halftime of this abomination to football. Hopefully it’s so bad that it’s actually good and you can take home some cash with a few hours of gridiron entertainment.

The good news is there is also college football on tonight. Beginning at 7:30 pm EST, Southern Miss (+10) plays at Louisiana on ESPNU, and Louisville (-20.5) hosts Virginia on ESPN in a glow-out game. The Cards are wearing uniforms with glow-in-the-dark numbers. How will in work under the stadium lights and Dont-Call-Me-Papa John’s? Your guess is as good as mine.

Speaking of Louisville…

The Louisville basketball program is in a weird place, and that’s putting it nicely. In a shocking twist, Cardinal fans aren’t buying into the delusion that Kenny Payne has a decent basketball team after surviving a one-point win in the opener over UMBC.

The Cards’ head coach said after the game they actually practiced their flukey finish, and Drew Deener was among the many who didn’t buy it for a second. The folks at UofL actually took the time to go back through the practice tape to clap back at Deener. It’s a bold strategy to start the year by getting chesty with the local media, but this might be their only opportunity to talk smack after a win.

Dug out the security footage for this one 🧐#GoCards pic.twitter.com/IFxZ24zp5C

— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 8, 2023