Cats rank dead last in another projection
Most Kentucky fans aren’t expecting miracles in 2025 football. After a disastrous 4-8 season a year ago, with just one SEC win and an offense that couldn’t score more than 21 points against a single Power Five opponent, expectations are low. But even with lowered standards, Big Blue Nation simply wants to see a competent product on the field. The goal isn’t a College Football Playoff run — it’s about restoring pride and competitiveness.
That’s why Week 1 against Toledo looms so large. The Rockets are no pushover. They received AP Top 25 votes in the preseason poll, while Kentucky didn’t sniff the rankings. Toledo’s brand of physical football combined with the return of experienced playmakers has many around the country labeling the Wildcats as upset bait right out of the gate. The oddsmakers at Fanduel had the line at 9.5, it is now down to 7.5. Kind of a big deal for an SEC team at home against a MAC opponent.
Much of the conversation centers on quarterback Zach Calzada. The veteran transfer is leading the competition, but he’ll need to show quickly that he can steady an offense that was downright broken last season. Without consistent quarterback play, Kentucky won’t be able to keep up even with mid-tier SEC competition, let alone the top of the league.
National voices are already voicing skepticism. SEC Mike, one of the more vocal analysts covering the conference, released his Week 1 SEC power rankings — and Kentucky fans won’t like what they saw. The top of his list includes Texas at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and LSU. South Carolina checks in at No. 7, Ole Miss at No. 8, and Florida at No. 9. The middle group features Tennessee, Missouri, Auburn, and Arkansas. Even Vanderbilt and Mississippi State are slotted ahead of Kentucky, which comes in dead last.
That’s a harsh indictment of where the program stands nationally. After over a decade of steady progress under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has backslid hard, and right now they’re not even being considered in the same tier as programs like Missouri or Arkansas, not even Vandy.
The good news? College football moves fast. A win over Toledo would change the narrative quickly, showing that Stoops’ team can at least avoid last year’s embarrassing lows. But if they stumble in Week 1, expect more basement rankings — and a restless fanbase.