Kentucky’s win over No. 9 Texas A&M gave the Wildcats a jolt, but the next step on the schedule brings a different kind of test. South Alabama comes to Kroger Field on Saturday, and Kentucky is being warned not to treat the Jaguars like a routine nonconference tune-up.
Will Stein made that point plainly. He didn’t just call South Alabama dangerous - he went a step further and said he views the Jaguars as the top team in the Sun Belt Conference, a group that also includes James Madison, App State, Troy, and Marshall.
"This is a really good football team. (They're) 3-0.
They're very physical. They have good players.
They're confident. ... This team, they can beat anybody.
To me, they're the best team in the Sun Belt. Really excited about the opportunity to get our fans back here in Kroger Field, an opportunity to play a really good opponent in South Alabama."
The Jaguars enter at 2-1, with their only loss coming in a 28-24 game against Tulane. That tight result is part of why Kentucky can’t afford to sleepwalk into this one, especially with a road trip to South Carolina waiting the following week.
There’s also uncertainty around South Alabama’s quarterback situation. Bishop Davenport did not play in the Jaguars’ game against Ohio because of a lingering injury, and Major Applewhite explained after the game that the issue had been bothering him since the Tulane matchup.
"He had an injury that was lingering from the Tulane game. It’s getting a lot better, and he would’ve been able to play in some capacity tonight, but I didn’t want him thinking about it too much. It’s just one of those situations where you shouldn't go out there and be worried about executing or worry about what’s bothering you."
Whether Davenport is back or not, Kentucky is preparing for a physical, confident opponent. Stein’s message to his team is simple: don’t let the situation dictate the approach.
"The scoreboard is 0-0. There’ll be 15 minutes on the clock starting the first quarter.
We’re gonna kick it off, and we gotta go play well. Major Applewhite can coach, like, he can coach, and he’s got good players, and so we have to have that mindset."
For Kentucky, the assignment is clear: stay locked in, handle business at home, and don’t let the aftermath of a big upset blur the challenge sitting right in front of them.
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