As the 2024 season approaches in Lexington, the Kentucky Kernel’s football beat-reporting staff provided their projections of how the Wildcats will fare while also highlighting a must-win game for the blue and white.
GIBSON: While Kentucky football’s offseason work seems promising on the surface, the Wildcats face one of the most difficult schedules in the country during the ‘24 season.
For starters, Kentucky has numerous “easy” wins including Southern Miss, Ohio, Vanderbilt and Murray State. Any loss here would be a disappointment.
On the other side of that coin, Kentucky will face four teams ranked inside the AP preseason poll: No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 15 Tennessee, all of which I have chalked up as losses.
There are a few close matchups I have the Wildcats taking including an absolute must-win in the SEC opener against South Carolina.
Shane Beamer has Kentucky figured out and the Wildcats cannot afford to drop this one early considering how difficult the schedule is.
I also have the Cats winning close ones over Florida on the road and securing the Governor’s Cup for the sixth consecutive year in front of a home crowd.
When the season is all said and done, I have the Wildcats sitting at 7-5 and bowl eligible.
JOHNSON: When looking at the Wildcats’ 2024 slate, it’s hard to overlook the difficulty across the board as Kentucky’s away schedule is one that even the most optimistic fan would be happy to steal just one win out of.
It will be pivotal for the Wildcats to handle their out of conference opponents in Southern Miss, Ohio, Murray State and Louisville.
In fact, it would be disappointing if the Wildcats don’t secure comfortable wins in every one of those matchups aside from the Governor’s Cup, which I anticipate being a hard-fought Kentucky win.
Looking at the Wildcats’ SEC matchups, I expect strong showings from the Cats in their home bouts with both Vanderbilt and Auburn as they take advantage of a home crowd to secure wins.
Unfortunately for fans, I see losses in the rest of the Wildcats’ matchups with them failing to secure an away victory while dropping home games to No. 1 Georgia and South Carolina.
With what I believe to be inevitable losses to No. 4 Texas, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 15 Tennessee and Florida, I see the Wildcats ending their season with a 6-6 record.
SCOTT: Kentucky should be exciting to watch this year as it has added many potential playmakers on both sides of the ball while also retaining some fan favorite stars to help it finish strong against one of the toughest schedules in the FBS.
The Cats are lined up to play four teams appearing in the AP preseason poll and only No. 1 Georgia is a home game. None will be easy, but it’s not out of the question to come out with a win in any of those matchups.
I think the Cats should come out on top against Southern Miss, Ohio and Murray State, and, although a win over Vanderbilt is not guaranteed, it’s likely.
The other three conference games — South Carolina, Florida and Auburn — feel like toss-ups because of Kentucky’s recent history with conference games that seem evenly matched.
Out of those three, I think a victory over Auburn is most likely and the Wildcats will probably defeat Florida, but not South Carolina.
As usual, the season will close out against in-state rival Louisville, and I am confident that the Cats will triumph over the Cardinals for the sixth straight year with home-field advantage playing a big role.
Overall, I have Kentucky finishing its 2024 campaign with a 7-5 record and earning a bowl berth for the ninth* consecutive year.
Bruner: Kentucky football is quite an interesting story coming into this year as it seems like it has gotten better on paper, but may fall victim to a really rough schedule.
When analyzing this season, I think breaking it down into categories would be beneficial as there are likely wins, likely losses and toss-ups. Below is how I feel that shakes out:
Likely wins: Southern Miss, Ohio, Vanderbilt and Murray State.
Likely Losses: Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas.
Toss-ups: South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Louisville.
All in all, I think the toss-ups will make or break this year and I think the most important and winnable game out of those is Auburn, which is why I would vote it as my game to watch.
When the dust settles, I project Kentucky’s rough schedule will get the best of it and it will finish 6-6 with losses to South Carolina, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
