Kentucky football: Wildcats keep ascending the poll ladder now up to No. 8

Another week and another win have the undefeated Kentucky football continuing to climb the ladder of success in the polls moving to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll after three weeks.

The Wildcats took care of business on Saturday defeating Youngstown State 31-0 marking the first shutout since 2009.

The 2022 edition of the UK defense is one of only two teams that hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown this season. The other is?

Alabama.

That’s some pretty good company to be amongst and shows why coach Mark Stoops was so optimistic about this season. They don’t line up in the wrong place, miss assignments or tackles, get flagged for dumb penalties, and more importantly are a solid two deep at every position.

The last time Kentucky football was ranked this high in the AP poll was 2007 when in weeks 6 and 8 they were also ranked No. 8 but lost four of its final six games ending the year ranked No. 22

Prior to that it was way back to 1977 when they cracked the top 10 at No. 8 in week eight, spent the next six weeks at No. 7, and in the final poll finished at No. 6. That team went 10-1 with the only loss coming in week No. 2 at Baylor 21-6.

The highest ranking Kentucky has ever attainted was No. 3 in week 9 of the 1950 season when they finished 11-1 with the only blemish a 7-0 loss to Tennessee in the final regular season game. They did win the Sugar Bowl following that loss defeating Oklahoma 13-7.

There are eight SEC teams ranked this week with Kentucky football coming in as the third highest ranked behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 ranked Alabama. Their opponent in two weeks Ole Miss (3-0)  sits at No. 16 and plays Tulsa this week before their SEC opener hosting UK on October 1.

Week 3 AP Top 25 poll
1. Georgia (59)
2. Alabama (3)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Oklahoma
7. USC
8. Kentucky
9. Oklahoma State
10. Arkansas
11. Tennessee
12. NC State
13. Utah
14. Penn State
15. Oregon
16. Ole Miss
17. Baylor
18. Washington
19. BYU
20. Florida
21. Wake Forest
22. Texas
23. Texas A&M
24. Pitt
25. Miami

On the coach’s side, Kentucky moved up one spot to No. 9 sitting behind Oklahoma State the same team they have ranked just ahead of in the AP poll. The Cowboys are off this Saturday and could allow UK to move up an additional spot.

Sitting just ahead of them is USC who is also 3-0 and will take on another undefeated PAC 12 team in Oregon State this weekend. While No. 6 Oklahoma hosts Kansas State.

Week 3 Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (40)
2. Alabama (24)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Oklahoma
7. USC
8. Oklahoma State
9. Kentucky
10. Arkansas
11. NC State
12. Tennessee
13. Mississippi
14. Utah
15. Penn State
16. Wake Forest
17. Baylor
18. Oregon
19. Texas
20. Texas A&M
21. Michigan State
22. Florida
23. BYU
24. Washington
25. Miami

Ok course for Kentucky to hopefully ascend another rung they again must take care of business again this Saturday when another team from the MAC steps onto Kroger Field in Northern Illinois. The Wildcats already took care of the other Miami in the season opener.

The game will be on ESPN2 with kickoff set for 7 pm EST.