Kentucky’s availability report got a major boost before Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma: running back CJ Baxter is expected to play.
That’s a stronger update than the “game-time decision” label that surfaced on Friday, according to Pete Thamel’s report. Baxter has already piled up eight rushing touchdowns this season, which ranks second in the SEC, and Kentucky would love to keep feeding him if he’s good to go.
The pregame chatter around the Wildcats went beyond the injury news, though. On College GameDay, most of the ESPN crew still wasn’t ready to buy in on Kentucky. Desmond Howard made that clear before siding with Oklahoma, saying, “It’s so hard to pick Oklahoma because their offense struggles so much,” but still landing on the Sooners.
Kentucky did draw two votes on the panel. Pat McAfee called the Wildcats his Superdog and picked them outright, while Steve Young was just as bullish on Will Stein.
“Will Stein reminds me of the LeFleurs and the Liam Coens and the Kevin O’Connells of the world. They’re going to come calling for him,” said Young.
That’s a former Super Bowl winner making a pretty big statement about Kentucky’s head coach.
On the SEC Network side, Marty Smith spent time with Stein for a feature on the pregame show. The segment follows the Kentucky coach through a day in Lexington and opens with Adam Luckett’s voice, a familiar touch for ESPN features.
Kentucky’s profile on the pregame circuit was a busy one, and the Wildcats also picked up more coverage on the KSR YouTube channel, where the site is rolling out interviews, commentary, rapid reactions, and live shows centered on the program.
In Other News...
Kentucky Turned Oklahomas Pregame Disrespect Into A Brutal Response
Before kickoff in Norman, Oklahoma players crossed a line that gave Kentucky plenty of bulletin-board material, placing pictures of Wildcats players in urinals and urinating on them. The stunt spread quickly and added an edge to a matchup Kentucky was already treating like a chance to make a statement.
Kentucky answered with a 21-13 upset and the celebration inside the locker room carried the tone of a team that had not forgotten the pregame slight. Players posted social media clips from the scene, including one showing a belt swung at Oklahoma's mascot and another holding up a screenshot of the restroom incident, turning the whole episode into the kind of postgame banter that can linger long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Defense Turned A Slugfest Into A First-Place SEC Statement
Kentuckys win over Oklahoma had all the feel of a grind-it-out SEC afternoon until the defense turned it into something bigger. The Wildcats came away with a 21-13 victory to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play, a result that left them tied for first place in the SEC and gave the program a statement win built more on disruption than style points.
The tone was set by a defense that forced four turnovers and kept Oklahoma from ever finding much rhythm. Jordan Castell delivered the clincher with an interception returned for a touchdown, while Kenny Minchey supplied enough offense with two touchdown passes. MiQuise Humphrey-Grace was part of the constant pressure up front, helping swing the field with a key pass deflection and sacks as Kentuckys defense turned a slugfest into a signature night. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Landed A National Spot Fans Will Want To See
A wild college football weekend shook up the national conversation, and Kentucky fans have one more reason to keep an eye on the latest rankings discourse. Danny Kanell, the former Florida State quarterback turned analyst, refreshed his top 12 after a slate packed with upsets, and the new look includes four SEC teams as the playoff picture continues to tighten ahead of the AP Poll release.
Georgias stunning slide from No. 1 to No. 11 after losing to Auburn grabbed the most attention, while Tennessee leads the SEC contingent at No. 6 and BYU sits atop the list. For Kentucky followers, the bigger takeaway is how quickly the race is shifting around the conference, with SEC teams still very much in the mix as speculation builds about which schools can hang onto a playoff path. [Read more 🡒]