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If this season is any indication, Texas will get Kentucky's best shot

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•11/21/24
Oct 1, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Kentucky Wildcats tight end Jordan Dingle (85) and Mississippi Rebels defensive back Davison Igbinosun (20) during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Oct 1, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Kentucky Wildcats tight end Jordan Dingle (85) and Mississippi Rebels defensive back Davison Igbinosun (20) during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Kentucky makes its way to Austin this weekend to face No. 3 Texas. The Longhorns will be even more motivated than normal considering it’s senior night and they’re in the middle of an SEC Championship and College Football Playoff run.

Don’t expect any of that to phase the Wildcats team that has played its best against the toughest competition.

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Kentucky is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference but you’d find that hard to believe if you watched them play Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. In fact, Kentucky’s lone conference win came against No. 9 Ole Miss on the road. They also had Georgia on the ropes in the 4th quarter only to lose 13-12. UK also led the Vols in Knoxville at the half before losing 28-18.

While those games offer an indication of Kentucky’s upside, home losses to South Carolina (31-6), Auburn (24-10), and Vanderbilt (20-13) demonstrate Kentucky plays far too inconsistent.

Earlier in the week, Kentucky Sports Radio writer Nick Roush, offered some insight into Kentucky’s season ($).

As a legitimate playoff contender, Texas certainly fits the profile of Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. To Roush’s point based on covering the Wildcats all year, that spread would have me wary as well, especially given Texas’ inconsistent offense and inability to put away inferior teams early.

While the game might end up a little too close to comfort, Kentucky’s path to victory is extremely narrow, thanks in large part due to a woeful Wildcats passing game matched up against one of the best past defenses of the century.

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But Kentucky had a narrow path to victory against Ole Miss and still walked the tight rope from one side to the other. Could they potentially catch a Texas team that’s looking ahead to Texas A&M next week? If Texas plays a middling game some might say that’s the case but that doesn’t fit the Longhorns M.O.

Rest assured, Kentucky has UT’s full attention, in part thanks to its performances against quality opponents this season.

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