New Look SEC: Who Kentucky Football Fans Want to Beat Most

The SEC takes on a new look this year with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas. It obviously presents more significant challenges for Kentucky football, which is always fighting an uphill battle. But for fans, I think there has to be a level of excitement with two more elite opponent potentials now out there. So with the Sooners and Longhorns now added, I thought I would rank the 15 SEC teams on who I want to beat the most:

GIVE YOUR FIRSTBORN

1) TENNESSEE

This rivalry is layered for UK fans. Obviously being a border state means that many UK fans have to work with, live with, and interact with UT fans all the time. And the reputation isn’t so great in dealing with Vol fans. But you have to admit Tennessee’s dominance in the series plays a factor here. We have gotten so tired of both blowouts and heartbreaking close losses over the last 40 years that it makes wanting to beat them so much more intense.

2) GEORGIA

This in part has to do with just how good the Bulldogs have become. If you asked this question in 2005, Georgia probably isn’t 2nd on this list. But currently, they are the gold standard of the league. And unlike Alabama, UK has had to play Georgia each and every season. And on multiple occasions under Mark Stoops, fans thought Georgia would be the moment that would elevate this program to greatness, only for the Bulldogs to stomp on our necks. If Stoops’ Troops can ever conquer UGA, it will be a top moment in his tenure.

ALWAYS A BIG GAME

3) FLORIDA

Although UK has taken control of this rivalry in recent years, and the Gators are at a low point, this still will always be a big game for UK fans. This could change if their program continues to tank, but you would think UF has the resources to get back to an SEC power. Either way, much like Georgia is now, getting over that Gator hump was always a top priority for fans.

4) ALABAMA

While Kentucky doesn’t get to play the Crimson Tide very much, when they do it is a huge game. Any chance to beat the country’s best program for the last 15 years has to get you excited. It’s only the fact the contests have been so spread apart that Bama doesn’t get higher on this list. You have a lot of scars from UT, UGA, and UF while Alabama doesn’t have that institutional beatdowns that stir your passions.

5) LSU

LSU fluctuates more than Alabama in how good they are year to year but no matter how good they are, seeing the Tigers is always a big game. The win in 2007 is still probably the best regular season win in school history. They are immune from us caring less if they stink. That showcases why they land on this list at #5.

EVERY YEAR HISTORY

6) SOUTH CAROLINA

This game is always an indicator of how the UK season will go. There is no SEC program that matches us more than them. Even though their program doesn’t have anything that defines it, the game itself always becomes a big game for us.

7) MISSOURI

Read the above about South Carolina. Drop it down just a little bit. And you have Missouri.

8) MISSISSIPPI STATE

Our buddy from the old SEC West. You usually just wanted to beat the Bulldogs because it mattered for bowl eligibility. Mike Leach added a little spice too. But now that they are not on the schedule every year, they’ll probably fall down this list pretty fast.

SEC NEW GUYS

9) TEXAS

I’m not sure I have any preference for Texas over Oklahoma but I put the Longhorns slightly ahead because they are on the schedule this year and doing Horns Down will be fun. As these two Big 12 teams integrate into the league more, I would think they will rise up this list more.

10) OKLAHOMA

The Sooners will probably land in the LSU territory once they have a few years in the league. Certainly, once they arrive on UK’s schedule, it will be seen as a huge game. But as of right now, it’s hard to have many emotions about a team we haven’t played in 42 years.

VANDY HAS ITS OWN CATEGORY

11) VANDERBILT

Vanderbilt is obviously the worst SEC program by a large margin on the one UK fans should expect the Cats to beat year in and year with no exceptions. But the reason they aren’t last is because of that reason. I want to beat them more than the teams below because I know what losing to them also means. Losing to Vanderbilt causes the reddest of red flags to pop up. So while I will never enjoy beating them as much as almost any other team, you should care more about beating them than the 3 teams below.

COULD NOT CARE LESS

12) OLE MISS

This always feels like a “weird” game on the schedule. Because they are actually a top program and it would always be considered a great win. And going to Oxford is wonderful. But do you ever really get passionate about wanting to beat Ole Miss? I know I don’t.

13) AUBURN

This can actually be a top-tier SEC program and beating them should be a tall order. But they are so far behind Alabama for so many years that it somehow impacts how other teams view them I think. They are on our schedule this year and there isn’t a conference game besides Vandy I’m looking less forward to.

14) TEXAS A&M

Only one game since the Aggies joined the league. Even when they did join, I’m not sure UK fans had a single emotion about it. Rivalry would have formed had Mark Stoops actually got that job, but Mike Elko probably not gonna do it for people.

15) ARKANSAS

They have played once in 13 seasons. And while they have played some very entertaining games when they do play, do you ever really care when they are on the SEC schedule? For as good of a basketball rivalry as it has been (and will be this year), the football game carries no juice whatsoever.