In 2018, Kentucky football and head coach Mark Stoops made a statement, finishing the year 10-3 with a Citrus Bowl victory.

For many, this season saw the Cats reach heights they never imagined possible and an 8-5 Belk-Bowl-winning season in 2019 was received quite well.

The program suffered a hiccup in 2020, in a season that was shortened by COVID-19, which meant the Wildcats were forced into an all-SEC schedule and finished 5-6 with a Gator Bowl victory.

Then 2021 happened.

In the modern day, a look at the 2021 season shows an 0-3 record and 10 vacated wins, but, at the time, Kentucky reached 10 wins and a Citrus Bowl victory for the second time in four years and, naturally, questions began to arise as to whether or not this could be the standard of the program going forward.

One time could be a fluke, twice in four years is program development.

Heading into 2022, Kentucky did something extraordinary.

Returning star quarterback Will Levis and, in theory, having all the pieces to take that next step, the Wildcats received a preseason ranking for the first time in 44 years.

Starting the year, things were going well. The Cats handled Ball State, conquered Florida in The Swamp — a win which saw Stoops pass Paul “Bear” Bryant as the winningest head coach in Kentucky history — and took care of business at home against Youngstown State and Northern Illinois.

Traveling to Oxford, Mississippi, for week four, the Wildcats found themselves ranked No. 7 in the country against the No. 14 Rebels.

Taking the field on ESPN, Kentucky had a chance to shock the world and a win surely would’ve seen the Wildcats enter the national conversation for a first ever College Football Playoff appearance.

Unfortunately for them, while the Cats fought until the very end, they failed.

Kentucky gave up unacceptable sacks, many of which were a result of missed assignments, missed a field goal and an extra point, surrendered a safety, choked a kick return touchdown when Barion Brown was tripped by his own teammate, recorded a turnover on downs and, perhaps most egregiously of all,  threw away what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown due to a quick snap that resulted in a flag. Levis then fumbled on the very next play and the rest is history.

Unfortunately for Stoops and Co., for whatever reason, this loss didn’t just delay Kentucky’s rise to the top… it crushed it.

The very next week the Cats lost at home to South Carolina in an embarrassing display without Levis.

After starting the year 4-0, Kentucky finished it 3-6. This included a loss at home to Vanderbilt, a crushing blowout at Tennessee and, again, perhaps most egregiously of all, a loss to Iowa in the Music City Bowl. The same Iowa it had beat one year prior in the Citrus Bowl to exemplify the rise of the program.

Last season was more of the same. The Cats started 5-0 and became ranked heading into Georgia before finishing the year 2-6 with embarrassing displays against Georgia and Alabama, a hair-pulling loss to South Carolina and a disappointing choke against Clemson in the Gator Bowl.

This season, the Cats didn’t bother with the early season optimism and were embarrassed at home 31-6 against South Carolina in week two.

After a close contest with Georgia and a lopsided win over Ohio, the Wildcats are again traveling to Oxford, this time to face the No. 6 Rebels, and fan expectations are far lower than they were in 2022.

While an upset is always possible in college football, the consensus among most fans is that a Rebel blowout is inevitable with the high-powered Ole Miss offense being regarded as one of the best in the nation.

In fact, while big games used to be exciting for fans, Kentucky’s trip to Oxford has instead left many fans feeling anxious that they’ll be shown a clear picture of just how far they’ve fallen in a short timeframe.

Kentucky and No. 6 Ole Miss are set to kick off at noon ET from Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. The contest will air live on ABC.