Will Levis has shined against non-conference competition

Kentucky enters the 2022 season with one of the longest non-conference winning streaks in college football. The Wildcats have won 16 consecutive games outside of the SEC since losing a one-point contest to Northwestern at the Music City Bowl to end the 2017 campaign.

The Wildcats were again able to extend that streak in 2021 with a 5-0 run in the non-conference. In those games, quarterback Will Levis played like a star. We remember how the quarterback ran all over Louisville in the Governor’s Cup, but most of the damage caused by the quarterback occurred through the air in these games.

Let’s take a look at the data.

• ULM: 18/26, 367 yards, 14.1 yards per attempt, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
• Chattanooga: 23/35, 254 yards, 7.3 yards per attempt, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions,
• New Mexico State: 21/31, 419 yards, 13.5 yards per attempt, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
• Louisville: 14/18, 149 yards, 8.3 yards per attempt, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
• Iowa: 17/28, 233 yards, 8.3 yards per attempt, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
• Total: 67.4% completion rate (93/138) on 27.6 throws per game, 10.3 yards per attempt, 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions

That’s getting the job done. Again, Will Levis will need to work on throwing fewer interceptions in 2022, but the quarterback was at his best against non-conference foes. With Miami (Ohio) heading to Kroger Field to begin the season on Saturday night under the lights, could we see another big game from Levis?

The recent track record tells us that the redshirt senior quarterback could be set for a huge passing day on Saturday night facing a MAC secondary and pass rush that is breaking in a lot of new pieces.