Kentucky’s stay in the AP top 10 didn’t last long.
After getting hammered 34-6 at Tennessee, the Wildcats tumbled five spots in Sunday’s AP Poll, sliding from No. 8 to No. 13. The drop matched the damage done in the Coaches Poll earlier in the day, where Kentucky also landed at No. 13 after falling six spots.
Tennessee, meanwhile, kept climbing. The Volunteers jumped seven places to No. 9 in the updated AP rankings after the win over Kentucky.
The road doesn’t get any easier from here. Florida is next on Kentucky’s schedule, and the Gators did not receive any votes in this week’s AP Poll after losing to Oklahoma.
That matchup is set for Saturday, Nov. 14 in Lexington, with kickoff scheduled for 6:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
After Florida, Kentucky still has two more regular-season games left: Missouri and Louisville. Missouri drew the most votes of any team outside the AP top 25 this week, while Louisville received 10 votes.
The College Football Playoff rankings will be updated Tuesday night, and Kentucky entered the weekend at No. 6 in that poll. Another slide is expected there as well.
AP Poll Top 25 Rankings (Nov. 8)
Georgia
Utah (+1)
Notre Dame (+1)
UCLA (+1)
Miami (-4)
Indiana
Alabama (+2)
Texas (+2)
Tennessee (+7)
Texas Tech (+3)
Wake Forest (+3)
BYU (-5)
Kentucky (-5)
Houston (+3)
Southern California (+3)
Iowa (+5)
Boise State (+3)
Oregon
Ole Miss (-7)
South Carolina (+3)
Ohio State (-10)
Arizona (+2)
New Mexico (-1)
LSU (-9)
In Other News...
Kentucky Gets Another Early Chance To Make A National Statement
The Champions Classic is back Tuesday night at Chicagos United Center, and for Kentucky it brings another one of those early-season stages that can shape the national conversation before conference play even begins. Since the event was created in 2011, the doubleheader featuring Michigan State, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky has become one of college basketballs most recognizable showcases, a spot where rankings, reputations and first impressions all get tested in a hurry.
For the Wildcats, the matchup with Kansas is more than just another November game. It is a chance to measure themselves against a perennial power in a setting built for high-end competition, with the kind of spotlight that can tell a lot about where a team stands and where it still needs work. Even in a season that is still just getting started, this is the sort of night that can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is In A Real Recruiting Fight With North Carolina
Kentuckys recruiting board for the 2027 class already has one of its biggest names circled in CJ Rosser, a five-star power forward who sits near the top of the national rankings. The Wildcats have not just offered Rosser, they have made him a priority, bringing him to campus for both official and unofficial visits as they work to stay in the mix for a prospect with the kind of upside that can shape a class.
North Carolina is in the same battle, and the Tar Heels recent commitments have not cooled their interest in Rosser. For Kentucky, the appeal goes beyond tradition and playing time, with the program also believed to have a strong hand when it comes to NIL opportunities, which could matter in a race this tight. The next steps in Rossers recruitment should tell a lot about whether the Wildcats can turn early priority into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Faces Its First Real Test Against A Title Contender
Kentuckys early-season tune-up phase gives way to something far more revealing in the College Basketball Champions Classic, where Kansas arrives as the kind of opponent that can show a team exactly where it stands. The Wildcats have handled James Madison and Manhattan to open the year, but this one should tell a much clearer story about how ready they are for the level of pressure that comes with title-contender basketball.
For Kentucky, the formula starts with making shots from deep and keeping Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes from taking over the game. The Wildcats will also need meaningful production from newcomers Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo, two players whose early-season contributions could matter even more against a team with Kansas size, talent and edge. [Read more 🡒]