With Mississippi State on the near horizon and sporting a 3-0 record, the Cats are preparing for their second SEC matchup of the season and are looking to remain undefeated through four weeks of play.

Select offensive players and coaches spoke to the media Tuesday after their practice, and it became evident this team is zoned in on defeating the Bulldogs Saturday, especially after last year’s sour 45-7 loss.

A crucial piece of Mississippi State’s scouting report is their tough and experienced defensive line. Kentucky offensive line coach John Schlarman says last year’s game against the Bulldogs was frustrating.  

“You know, we didn’t play very good as a team, but you look back and there were some things that we actually did okay at, but that was one of those days that we just didn’t play our best ball,” Schlarman said. “That’s something that we watch that film and learn from it, and hopefully this year go out there and play a heck of a lot better than when we went down there last year.”

It’s no secret that lineman in the SEC are among the best in the country, and Schlarman agrees.

“I mean that’s what you sign up for as an offensive lineman in this league. You know coming in you’re going against really good players,” Schlarman said.

Kentucky center Drake Jackson says the o-line did some good things and some bad things last year blocking the Bulldogs, and says “with guys like them, you have to go hard every play.”

Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran says they have to bring the a-game against the Bulldogs.

“You’ve gotta bring it against Mississippi State, they’re 14th in the country for a reason. They’re a really good defense,” Gran said. 

Terry “Touchdown” Wilson, Kentucky’s starting quarterback, also touched on how he’s noticed in film that Mississippi State’s defensive line is a force to be reckoned with.

“I know they have an aggressive d-line, you know that just comes with the SEC,” Wilson said. “We’re gonna do what we’re gonna do, and just go out there and play ball and execute and attack them. We’re gonna try to get them tired.”

Coming from a JUCO and this year being Wilson’s first season at Kentucky, the SEC games feel a little different for him than some of his other teammates who grew up around the Southeastern Conference.

“I really didn’t used to watch these teams a lot, you know I was a Big 12 kid growing up,” Wilson said. “I don’t know too much of the history and stuff like that, but we just gotta go out there and play ball.”