After Kentucky football’s first win of the 2024-25 season over Southern Miss, it’s hard to pinpoint how good this Kentucky squad is.
Sure, quarterback Brock Vandagriff threw some very questionable passes, one leading to a near pick-six, but on the other side the running game was solid and the offensive line was dominant at times.
The defense could’ve played better, sure, but ultimately it didn’t allow a single point on the opposing scoreboard.
It’s the first game, right? Why should anyone be nitpicking already?
Frankly, because the outcome of the season is already evident.
Being on the campus and growing up around family and friends that favor the Wildcats more often than not, it’s clear that the fanbase is passionate and doesn’t care what any individual reporter has to say.
Despite that, can any point to what drastic change all of sudden makes this team good?
The Wildcats were active in the transfer portal and have their fan favorites in Barion Brown, Dane Key and Deone Walker returning, but can they really compete and earn themselves a spot in the College Football Playoffs?
Probably not.
Based on trends in recent years, it’s safe to assume that their next game against the South Carolina Gamecocks will be a close, nail-biting game.
Then, fans may as well look past their third game, where they host the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, but knowing BBN, fans will still claim they have an actual chance before the kickoff.
Sure, the Cats do have some throwaway games that they should very easily win like their games against the Ohio Bobcats and Murray State, but when did it become convenient to act like this team isn’t in the best conference in the country?
Kentucky plays at Ole Miss this season, which is ranked No. 6 in the nation. The Cats host Vanderbilt, which is shockingly not the pushover Vandy many have come to know. They play in one of the hardest stadiums in all of College Football and have to take on the rival Florida Gators, and Auburn, Tennessee, Texas and Louisville all scored over 50 points in week one.
Kentucky’s defense allowed Southern Miss to nearly score twice. How is it stopping these teams?
That’s not at all to say Kentucky has nothing. Anyone with eyes can understand the fan base, they can hear the chants, see the tailgates, read the media stories and feel the energy every Saturday when the Wildcats run into Kroger Field.
The passion is there, but tons of fanbases are passionate. If Kentucky fans want an objective view of their season, they should put themselves in the shoes of any other fanbase around the country and get that outside perspective that is lacking.
As far as most of the country is concerned, in the words of John Calipari, “This is a basketball school. No disrespect to our football team. I hope they win 10 games and go to bowls, but this is a basketball school.”
