Kentucky’s stay near the top of the College Football Playoff picture got shorter in a hurry.
When the second CFP rankings came out Nov. 10, the Wildcats slid to No. 11 after opening at No. 6 last week, which was the highest playoff ranking in program history. The drop came after Kentucky’s road loss to Tennessee, and it knocked the Cats five spots down the board.
Even with the tumble, Kentucky has still managed something it hasn’t done often in the playoff era: appear in back-to-back CFP rankings. This is only the third time the Wildcats have done that. Kentucky was ranked in every one of the six polls in 2018, then showed up in the final two rankings in 2021.
For now, the bracket projection still keeps Kentucky in the mix. If the playoff began this week, the Wildcats would head to No.
6 Texas in the first round, with the winner moving on to face No. 3 Alabama.
The bigger picture is still favorable enough to keep Kentucky in the conversation. The Cats are 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, tied for second in the league standings with Alabama entering the week. Texas and Tennessee are both 4-2 in conference play, sitting a half-game back of Kentucky and the Tide.
Kentucky also remains firmly inside the national polls, checking in at No. 13 in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25.
There’s still room for the Wildcats to climb. They get Florida next, and the Gators come in at 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC after dropping out of the rankings following their loss to Oklahoma.
Kentucky and Florida are set for a 6:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Nov. 14, at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The final CFP rankings, which will determine the seeding for the 12-team bracket, will be revealed Dec. 6.
The SEC championship game is scheduled for Dec. 5.
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 🡒]