Week 1 foe Toledo picked up preseason poll love while Kentucky wasn't even mentioned
The Associated Press released its first Top 25 poll of the 2025 college football season today, and for Kentucky, the news is as expected — but still a little humbling.
Coming off a 4–8 campaign, a massive roster overhaul with 50 new players, and the departures of stars Barion Brown and Dane Key, there was never a realistic case for the Wildcats to be ranked. Still, it’s not the absence that stings — it’s who’s ranked ahead of them.
Among the “others receiving votes” are Louisiana-Lafayette, Navy, James Madison, Army, Toledo (yes, Week 1’s MAC opponent), Tulane (coached by former UK assistant Jon Sumrall), UNLV, and Memphis. That’s eight programs AP voters believe are currently in better shape than Kentucky. And they simply should not be. That is an indictment on year 13 head coach Mark Stoops.
It’s particularly eye-catching that Toledo, who opened as a 9.5-point underdog in Lexington(now down to 8.5), earned more respect in the poll than the Cats themselves. That alone could shrink the betting line even more before August 30 — and it’s a far cry from last year’s season opener, a 31–0 cruise against Southern Miss.
If this preseason poll is a true forecast, Kentucky’s 2025 climb back to relevance is going to be uphill all year.
AP preseason Top 25
1. Texas
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Florida
16. SMU
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma
19. Texas A&M
20. Indiana
21. Ole Miss
22. Iowa State
23. Texas Tech
24. Tennessee
25. Boise State
Others Receiving Votes
BYU, Utah, Baylor, Louisville, USC, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Tulane, Nebraska, UNLV, Toledo, Auburn, James Madison, Memphis, Florida State, Duke, Liberty, Navy, Iowa, TCU, Pittsburgh, Army, Colorado, Louisiana-Lafayette.
Looks like "the process" isn't working after all.