The bye week is a welcome chance for the Kentucky football team to rest, regroup and fix some things, but for Big Blue Nation, it leaves a Wildcat-sized hole in your Saturday schedule. Fear not BBN. There's a fantastic slate of college football games on today with major SEC implications and intriguing matchups you will want to see.
Here’s your official BBN watch guide for the bye week.
12:00 PM ET: #17 Texas Tech at #16 Utah (Fox)
This is a fantastic early matchup between two ranked, hard-nosed teams. Utah (3-0) is coming off a beat down of Wyoming and will be looking to defend their home turf, where they are traditionally dominant. Quarterback Devon Dampier leads a physical offense that loves to control the line of scrimmage. They'll face a Texas Tech (3-0) team that has been lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 58 points per game behind quarterback Behren Morton. It’s a classic battle of a high-flying offense against a punishing, defensive-minded home team.
3:30 PM ET: #22 Auburn at #11 Oklahoma (ABC)
Get ready for some drama in Norman. All eyes will be on Auburn (3-0) quarterback Jackson Arnold, the former five-star recruit who transferred from Oklahoma. Now he returns to his old stomping grounds to lead the undefeated Tigers against a formidable Oklahoma (3-0) team that looks like a legitimate playoff contender. The Sooners' defense has been stout, but can they handle the emotion and talent of their former signal-caller? This game is dripping with juicy storylines and will have a major impact on the SEC landscape.
7:00 PM ET: South Carolina at Missouri (SEC Network)
This is the most important game of the day for Kentucky fans. It’s a chance to get a live scout of next week's opponent, South Carolina (2-1). The big news is that quarterback LaNorris Sellers is expected to return from injury, which should give them a significant boost. They travel to face a Missouri (3-0) team that has been quietly dominant, winning its games by an average margin of 30 points. Can the Gamecocks right the ship after last week's upset loss to Vanderbilt, or will Mizzou establish themselves as a real threat in the SEC East?
Honorable Mention: Keep an eye on Florida vs. Miami. It’s a classic rivalry game, and it’s another chance to see if Billy Napier’s Gators can show any signs of life.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion