Texas lifts Kentucky football out of the worst time slot

Just when you thought Kentucky only played SEC games at 7:45 pm on the SEC Network, Texas gifted them a better time and network. Kentucky has played an SEC high of four games at that time and on that network, all four of them in a row. There was a feeling that Kentucky, because of their poor play, had been regulated to that spot, even dragging Tennessee into it with them.

However, in week 13, the Kentucky Wildcats will face off against the Texas Longhorns at 3:30 pm EST on ABC. This is one of the premier spots for the network and for the conference. Instead of dragging Texas down with them, the Longhorns were able to lift Kentucky into this ideal time and network.

The other major reason, besides that the SEC wants to show Texas, is that there are truly not many good week 13 matchups in the conference. Look at that slate above. There are four games that are SEC opponents versus cupcakes. The other SEC matchups are not all that exciting, either. LSU and Vanderbilt have some potential, which is why it has the asterisk because depending on week 12, the SEC may flex them to the better slot of ESPN at 7:30 pm or the spot Kentucky is famous for, SEC Network at 7:45 pm.

The other SEC matchups are Auburn vs. Texas A&M, Flordia vs. Ole Miss, Alabama vs. Oklahoma, and Missouri vs. Mississippi State. There's a strong chance that all of those are lopsided. To be fair, so could Texas and Kentucky. However, putting the Longhorns and Kentucky in that midday ABC spot makes you wonder if the SEC expects it to be a battle.

The Kentucky defense has the ability to slow down the Longhorns like it did against Georgia and Ole Miss. If there is any hope that the Wildcats can keep it close or even pull off an insane upset, it's going to be if the defense can get back to its early-season elite ability.