Kentucky’s trip to Missouri now has a kickoff time, and it’s set for the spotlight.
The SEC announced game times for Nov. 21 on Saturday, and No. 6 Kentucky at No.
18 Missouri will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
It was already clear the matchup would be played at night; now the Cats and Tigers know exactly when they’ll take the field in CoMo.
Both teams enter this week looking to bounce back. Kentucky is coming off a 34-6 loss to Tennessee, while Missouri fell 34-20 to Texas.
The Wildcats host No. 24 Florida this week, and the Tigers head to No.
2 Georgia.
Missouri’s loss to Texas dropped the Tigers to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC play. The Tigers have also taken conference losses at Ole Miss on Oct. 17 and at Mississippi State in their SEC opener on Sept. 26.
Austin Simmons has been a major spark for Missouri since transferring in from Ole Miss. Against Texas, he went 23-for-43 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He left that game with a leg injury, then later returned.
For Kentucky, the path to staying in the College Football Playoff hunt is straightforward: win out. If the Cats handle Florida at home on Saturday, the stakes in Missouri will be even bigger under the lights.
The SEC’s Nov. 21 slate also includes Wofford at Ole Miss at noon ET, Vanderbilt at Florida at noon ET, Texas A&M at Oklahoma at noon ET, Tennessee Tech at Mississippi State at 1 p.m. ET, Chattanooga at Alabama at 2 p.m.
ET, Samford at Auburn at 3:30 p.m. ET, Arkansas at Texas at 3:30 p.m.
ET, LSU at Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. ET, and Georgia at South Carolina at 7:30 p.m.
ET on ABC.
The league also released game times for Nov. 14, with Missouri at Georgia set for 3:30 p.m. ET, Florida at Kentucky at 6:15 p.m.
ET, and Texas at LSU at 7:30 p.m. ET among the notable matchups.
Kentucky has just two more night games left. The Governors Cup will kick off in the early TV window on Nov. 28, with the game time and TV network to be announced next Monday.
In Other News...
Kentucky Finally Got Clarity On Two Injuries That Could Shape The Stretch
Kentucky finally has a clearer picture on two defensive injuries that have lingered since the South Carolina game in early October. Nickel cornerback Jaden Smith tore his ACL in that matchup and will miss the rest of the season, a tough blow for a defense that has had to adjust without one of its key pieces in the secondary.
There is at least a sliver of better news on linebacker Antwan Smith, who underwent ankle surgery after the same game and could still have a path back for postseason play. With both players sidelined for weeks already, the latest update gives Kentucky a better sense of what it can and cannot count on as the season moves into its final stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Biggest Problem Showed Up Again In Ugly Kansas Loss
Kentucky came out with energy in Chicago and looked ready to make a statement in the Champions Classic, but the game quickly turned once Kansas started applying pressure. The Wildcats were undone by the same issues that have lingered around them, with turnovers feeding the Jayhawks run game and defensive breakdowns making it hard to recover after the opening stretch.
Zoom Diallo did his part with 24 points, and Malachi Morenos foul trouble only added to Kentuckys problems as the frontcourt rotation thinned out. Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds in the 89-69 loss, leaving Kentucky with another reminder that its margin for error shrinks fast when the ball security and physical defense are not there. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Thing That Could Wreck Kentuckys Plans
Kentuckys playoff path took a hit in Week 10 with a six-point showing against Tennessee, and now the Wildcats head into a crucial home game against Florida with little margin for error. Kenny Minchey has given Kentucky a steady hand at quarterback this season, throwing 14 touchdowns against two interceptions, and the Wildcats will need that kind of efficiency again if they want to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Florida has its own issues on defense, but the Gators still bring one wrinkle that could make this matchup tricky for Kentucky. They have not named a starting quarterback for the game, leaving some uncertainty about what the Wildcats will see on the other side, and with both defenses showing vulnerabilities, this one has the feel of a game where one mistake could swing the whole thing. [Read more 🡒]