SEC football’s new availability reports are starting to give fans a clearer picture, and the first one for No. 15 Kentucky’s matchup with Oklahoma brought plenty of questions on both sides.
The league’s 2024 policy requires schools to submit official reports every Wednesday for SEC games, then update them nightly before a final ruling an hour before kickoff on Saturdays. Players are listed as out, doubtful, questionable, or probable depending on their chances to play.
For Kentucky, the report suggests the Wildcats could be missing several players again, while a few key names are trending in better directions. Grant Grayton, Antwan Smith, Jaden Smith, and Tavion Wallace are all out once more.
South Alabama defensive line transfer Tyler Thomas is doubtful after failing to play a snap last week against LSU. Alex Afari Jr. is listed as questionable as his eligibility battle in court continues.
CJ Baxter appears on the report for the first time this season, and Kalen Edwards could be back after sitting out one game. Nic Anderson is also trending toward playing after being pulled from last week’s game.
Oklahoma’s list is even longer, and it includes some major pieces. The Sooners have LB Taylor Heim, WR Trell Harris, RB Xavier Robinson, TE Trynae Washington, and CB Jacobe Johnson all ruled out.
Trell Harris will miss another game, leaving Oklahoma short at wide receiver again. The Sooners are also juggling injuries at running back and along the offensive line.
Several starters remain up in the air. Eli Bowen, Parker Livingstone, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Michael Fasusi, Fred Hinton, and Heath Ozaeta are all questionable.
Among those names, Eli Bowen, Eddy Pierre-Louis, and Michael Fasusi are starters, while Heath Ozaeta stepped in for Pierre-Louis in the lineup last week. Jack Van Dorselaer and Tory Blaylock are both listed as probable.
With both teams dealing with significant injury situations, Saturday night could still bring a few late changes before the final injury update comes down an hour before kickoff.
In Other News...
Kentucky Faces A Tougher Oklahoma Test Than Fans May Expect
Kentuckys trip to Oklahoma sits in the middle of a crowded week of college football picks, but it stands out because this is the kind of game where the familiar SEC script can get upended in a hurry. The matchup comes with plenty of recent trend-watching attached, along with the sort of player and performance notes that shape how these predictions get made, and it gives the Wildcats a chance to show they can handle a road test that looks tougher on paper than some fans may have expected.
Oklahoma brings the sort of profile that can punish a team if it starts slowly, and that is why this one has drawn more attention than a routine conference preview. Kentuckys outlook is tied to whether it can match the Sooners tempo and avoid the kind of mistakes that tend to decide games like this, which is also what makes the prediction angle so interesting: the gap between what people think and what actually happens could be smaller than it appears. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Heard Is Giving Kentucky's Offense Something Few Tackles Can
Lance Heard has quickly become one of the more versatile pieces in Kentuckys offense, and that matters for a team looking for every edge up front. The left tackle has not allowed a sack through the first six games, but his impact has gone well beyond pass protection. Kentucky has found ways to use his size and movement skills in space, including a highlight-reel sweep against South Carolina, and the results have given the Wildcats something few offenses can say they have from the tackle spot.
His coaches have also been creative with how they deploy him, at times lining him up as a lead blocker in the backfield, a role Heard has clearly embraced. He was again part of the story in Kentuckys recent overtime win against LSU, adding another layer to a season that has already shown how valuable he can be when the Wildcats ask him to do more than the usual left tackle job. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's Linebacker Situation Just Took Another Unexpected Turn
Kentuckys inside linebacker picture got a little clearer, at least for the moment, when Alex Afari was granted eligibility to play by a temporary injunction from Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Brian Edwards. The ruling comes amid a lawsuit challenging how the NCAA is applying its new five-year eligibility rules to players who graduated high school in 2022, and it adds another twist to a situation that has already moved through multiple legal decisions.
For Kentucky, the timing matters because Afaris status directly affects a depth chart that has been under pressure at inside linebacker. His return gives the Wildcats another option in a spot where every available body counts, even as the larger eligibility fight continues to play out in court. [Read more 🡒]