Kentucky Football: Wildcats 2022 schedule gives UK massive opportunity

Well, we are just three games into the 2021 season and the Kentucky football team already has its 2022 Southeastern Conference schedule firmed up thanks to the SEC releasing next year’s schedule now.

The Wildcats could not have drawn a more perfect schedule where they will play 8 of their 12 games at home.

Each SEC team will play eight conference football games to include six games against division opponents and two games against non-division opponents.  One of the non-division opponents will be a permanent annual opponent and the other non-division opponent will rotate each year.

The Wildcats already had the four non-conference games inked with Miami of Ohio, Youngstown State, Northern Illinois, and in-state rival Louisville.

Kentucky will open the 2022 season at home hosting Miami on September 3. This will be its only warmup before heading off to The Swamp the following week to open SEC play against Florida. Depending on the talent that returns on each team it may be to Kentucky’s favor tangling with the Gators early on.

The return to the friendly confines of Kroger Field and welcome Youngstown State and Northern Illinois on September 17 and 24.

Kentucky could potentially be 4-0 at this point and heads south to Oxford, Mississippi to battle Ole Miss out of the SEC West the first Saturday in October. Most likely the Rebels will have a new quarterback with the success Matt Corral is having this season and early Heisman Trophy candidate he most likely will be headed to the NFL.

The scheduling Gods, also known as the SEC, were kind enough to return the Cats back to Lexington and welcome in South Carolina and their other SEC West permanent yearly opponent in Mississippi State.

https://twitter.com/UKFootball/status/1440463024653934605

Then it’s a bye in Week 8 and by all accounts UK could be undefeated, but needing a break before an interesting backend schedule.

That includes back-to-back SEC East tilts at Tennessee and then over to Columbia, Missouri to grapple with the Tigers. These two could make or break the season right here and for where Kentucky finishes in the East.

On November 12 they get a recovery game and win hosting Vanderbilt before Georgia rolls into the Bluegrass and most likely hands Kentucky a loss before their regular-season finale hosting Louisville.

It’s an interesting slate of games with Kentucky doing battle with three of their Eastern half teams after the bye week.  Mark Stoops and his troops need to relish this schedule because in 2023 it’s six home and six away games. Home games include Florida, Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee for those who like to look ahead.

Unless something strange happens Stoops should be on the field for his 10th season coaching the Wildcats and sometime during the year will be looking to become the winningest coach in program history by surpassing Paul “Bear” Bryant. Stoops with 52 wins trails Bryant by just eight wins.

The 2022 season will culminate with the SEC Championship Game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, December 3.  It will be the 31st edition of the game and the 29th in the city of Atlanta.