As another Kentucky football season is just a few weeks away in Lexington, Kentucky football was left off the preseason AP Top 25.
Kentucky is coming off of a 4-8 season in 2024 where it accumulated just one SEC win and missed out on a bowl for the first time in eight seasons.
Before the 2024 season, the Wildcats were left off the preseason poll but did receive some votes. However, this season Kentucky did not get any votes in the rankings.
Looking at the schedule that awaits the Wildcats, six opponents earned a spot in the rankings, with two being in the top 10.
Texas will begin the season as the No. 1 team in the country and will travel to Lexington to face the Cats on Oct. 18. The Longhorns took care of Kentucky in Austin last season by a score of 31-14.
Next in the rankings is the Georgia Bulldogs, who come in at No. 5 to begin the year and will host Kentucky on Oct. 4. The Bulldogs escaped Lexington with a 13-12 victory last season.
There is a bit of a gap in the rankings before the next opponent on Kentucky’s schedule comes in at No. 13 in the form of South Carolina. The Gamecocks will host the Wildcats on Sept. 27 after beating them 31-6 last season at Kroger Field.
Just two spots behind South Carolina at No. 15 is Florida, who will travel to Lexington on Nov. 8 after beating Kentucky in The Swamp 48-20 in 2024.
The last two teams found in the rankings come in the bottom five starting with Ole Miss, who will begin the year at No. 21. The Rebels are the first team Kentucky will face in week two at Kroger Field on Sept. 6. The Wildcats shocked Ole Miss in Oxford 20-17 last season for their lone SEC win.
Tennessee rounds out Kentucky oppositions in 2025 at No. 24 and will travel to Lexington on Oct. 25 after beating the Wildcats in Knoxville last season 28-18.
Three other teams Kentucky will face received votes in the pole including Louisville (90), Tulane (23) and Auburn (10).
A full list of the rankings can be found below:
- Texas Longhorns
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Clemson Tigers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Noter Dame Fighting Irish
- Oregon Ducks
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- LSU Tigers
- Miami (FL) Hurricanes
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Michigan Wolverines
- Florida Gators
- SMU Mustangs
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Boise State Cowboys
Kentucky will have its first chance to earn votes when its season begins on Saturday, August 30, when it will host Toledo at Kroger Field with kickoff set for 12:45 ET.
