Youngstown State arrives at Kroger Field with one game already in the books, while Kentucky is still waiting to kick off its season. That could look like a head start for the Penguins on paper, but UK senior linebacker Grant Godfrey isn’t buying the edge.
“We saw some of their offense,” Godfrey said. “We saw what their quarterback can do.
We gotta stop him. He had 21 carries.
The next-best carrier was (five). So we know who they want to go to.
We've just got to stop him.”
That quarterback is Beau Brungard, and he wasted no time flashing the résumé that made him one of the most decorated players in FCS football last season. In Youngstown State’s opening win over Mercyhurst, Brungard threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns while adding 119 rushing yards and two more scores.
The challenge for Kentucky is obvious: Brungard can beat a defense in more than one way. Last season, he piled up 3,234 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and added 1,468 rushing yards and 27 more scores. One of those runs went 72 yards for a touchdown.
Still, the Wildcats say they’re prepared for what’s coming.
“He's a great player,” Godfrey said. “He's real quick.
Real fast. He could have (gone) anywhere in the country. ...
Knowing our responsibilities, getting after him (will be key).”
The game will not be on a traditional TV channel. Kentucky and Youngstown State will stream on SEC Network+, the digital companion to SEC Network. Authenticated subscribers can watch through TV-connected devices or via WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app, or ESPN+.
Kevin Fitzgerald and Charlie Strong will have the call from Kroger Field.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Lexington.
DraftKings listed Kentucky as a 63-10 winner in one prediction, with the over/under set at 62.5. The projection called for a big debut statement from Stein and said the Wildcats’ backups would get extended time after a lopsided first half.
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Kentucky Faces One Big Health Question Before Alabama
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One of the clearer signs of progress is along the line and in the front seven, where Malachi Wood is expected to return after being held out by a calf bruise and Alex Afari is gradually being reintegrated into the team. The bigger question remains in the secondary, where Kentucky could use more clarity before a matchup like this, especially with Nichols still not fully settled on a return timeline. [Read more 🡒]