After being a mainstay in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 ranking in 2022 and being preseason No. 3 in 2023, Kentucky men’s soccer found itself unranked in the 2024 preseason poll.
While the fall may seem shocking from an outside perspective, it’s less surprising when looking at that 2023 season for UK in which it went 8-8-4, barely inching its way into the NCAA Tournament and being defeated in the second round by Notre Dame 2-0.
While Kentucky was unable to find itself in the poll, receiving seven votes, four of its conference opponents did find their names amongst the 25 “best” teams going into the season. In the conference, West Virginia found itself at No. 3, Marshall was ranked No. 8, James Madison found its name at No. 18 and Central Florida (UCF) was ranked No. 19.
Two other teams Kentucky will face off against in 2024 also made it into the top 25 rankings, with Indiana earning the No. 7 spot and Louisville helping round out the top 25 at No. 24.
The United Soccer Coaches released the preseason college rankings for both men and women teams on Tuesday with the defending men’s national champion Clemson earning the preseason No. 1 slot after finishing the 2023 season 15-3-5.
West Virginia, which finished 2023 17-3-4 and earned the No. 3 spot, will face Kentucky on Sept. 27 in Lexington. During the 2023 season, Kentucky beat West Virginia 1-0, but the preseason odds will seem to heavily favor the Mountaineers.
Kentucky in-state rival Louisville, which finished the 2023 season 12-6-3 and earned the No. 24 spot, will travel to Lexington on Sept. 9 after beating the Cats 4-2 last season.
The Wildcats will hope to put together a far more successful season in 2024 with head coach Johan Cedergren, who was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year after leading the undefeated No. 1 overall Wildcats in 2022, entering his 13th season at the helm of the program.
Kentucky men’s soccer’s 2024 season will kick off on Sunday, Aug. 11, against Memphis in Tennessee for a friendly match. The Wildcats’ first official game will be on Thursday, Aug. 22, against Oral Roberts in Lexington at The Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. That match is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
