Longhorns Country

Texas Longhorns Opponent Preview: Kentucky Wildcats

It's time for Kentucky to start beating the strong teams, and Texas might be on the Wildcats' way to achieve this goal.

Isa Almeida

Nov 16, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) hands the ball off to running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (0) during the first quarter against the Murray State Racers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) hands the ball off to running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (0) during the first quarter against the Murray State Racers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
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Kentucky's 2023 season had some ups and downs. The Wildcats stayed out of the AP Poll top 25 throughout the season and faced some big losses to ranked teams like Alabama and Georgia, but had a turnaround against "weaker" conference teams, such as Vanderbilt and Missouri, teams Kentucky had fallen to in 2022.

Going into 2024 and the first reveal of this season's AP Poll, the Wildcats were once again left out of the top 25.

The 2024 conference season will start with a bang for Kentucky, as it faces No. 1 Georgia at home, but the team will only face two other pre-season ranked teams in Ole Miss and Tennessee before facing Texas at DKR on Nov. 23.

A highlight is Kentucky's relationship with the transfer portal in the past offseason. Though there weren't many painful losses for the Wildcats, Mark Stoops might have scored gold in signing former Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Sr.

And if the name Stoops is familiar for Texas Longhorns fans, it's with good reason.

Kentucky head coach's brother Bob Stoops led the Oklahoma Sooners for 18 years and took home the Red River Showdown's Golden Hat 12 times. Now, 73 years after Texas and Kentucky last met, Mark will try to continue his younger brother's legacy.

The Wildcats have only won one conference game this season, while the Longhorns have only lost one, but it's no doubt Kentucky will head to DKR with an upset in mind.

Kentucky Wildcats

2024 Record: 4-6, 1-6 in the SEC

Head Coach: Mark Stoops

Offensive Leaders

Passing:  QB Brock Vandagriff

2024 Stats: 1,542 yards on 211 pass attempts with nine touchdowns.

Rushing: RB Demie Sumo-Karngbaye

2024 stats: 505 yards on 109 attempts and five touchdowns.

Receiving: WR Dane Key

2024 stats: 686 yards with 44 receptions and two touchdowns.

Defensive Leaders

Tackles: LB Jamon Dumas-Jackson - 27 solo, 18 assisted for a total of 45 tackles

Interceptions:  DB Jordan Lovett - two interceptions

Sacks: LB J.J Weaver - five sacks

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Isa Almeida
ISA ALMEIDA

Isa Almeida is a writer covering the Texas Longhorns for SI/Fan Nation, having joined the team on June 1, 2024. Raised in Southeast Brazil, Isa is now a third-year Journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Isa brings a diverse background and a wealth of knowledge to her writing. In addition to her work with SI/Fan Nation, Isa also covers the soccer and women's basketball beats for The Daily Texan. Her journalism journey is firmly rooted in her academic pursuits and her passion for sports.

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