It is week nine of the college football season, and the Kentucky Wildcats are tied for first place in the SEC. It’s not a dream; it’s a reality.
With that comes the chance of something even bigger: A chance at a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That said, plenty of football remains, and the Wildcats need to keep stacking wins. The next contest is against Vanderbilt. After being an underdog in three straight SEC matchups, Kentucky is a double-digit favorite against the Commodores.
Vanderbilt is one of three SEC programs Kentucky holds the series advantage over, the others being Arkansas (5-3) and Missouri (9-5). However, the Commodores have won two straight against the Wildcats and three of the last four meetings.
While Vanderbilt has been on the rise, this isn’t the same caliber of team they were a season ago, which finished 6-2 in the SEC and nearly made the CFP. This year’s team is currently 0-4 in the conference, losing three of their conference matchups by double digits, including a 31-21 loss last week to Arkansas.
However, they did have a chance to win at Auburn before falling 21-15. That same Tigers team just took down No. 1 Georgia in Athens.
For Kentucky’s CFP chances, this is a game the Wildcats need to win. Let’s take a look at what to watch for in this matchup.
Establish the Run
Kentucky’s offense is about balance. Of 447 offensive plays this season, 53% have been running plays and 47% have been passing plays. They have scored 13 touchdowns each through the air and on the ground.
That said, the Wildcat offense starts with the run, as it creates easier passing opportunities. They will be playing against a Vanderbilt defensive line that ranks last in the SEC in pressure rate and tackle for loss rate. The Big Blue Wall has proven itself to be one of the top units in the SEC, and they should be able to help establish the run early, opening up the rest of the offense.
Starting back CJ Baxter is sixth in the SEC in rushing yards this season with 484 yards and is trending toward a return to the field. He ranks second, by a single yard, among players with fewer than 100 rushing attempts.
Backup back Jason Patterson is second in the SEC in rushing yards per attempt (6.8).
This is where Kentucky needs to control this game early and often.
Pressure and Secondary
Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman has made it a point to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Wildcats have done that as well as anyone in the country thus far, ranking among the nation’s leaders in pressures. However, they have struggled at times to convert that pressure into sacks.
Vanderbilt allows the highest pressure rate in the SEC, which bodes well for the Wildcat defense. They can’t afford to allow Commodore QB Jared Curtis, a physical runner, to extend plays with his legs.
If the Kentucky defense can rattle Curtis, a freshman, he has shown a willingness to make bad decisions the secondary can capitalize on.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats will have to do this without star edge rusher Sam Greene, who has already been ruled out for this one after getting injured at Oklahoma. That means guys like CJ Works and Lorenzo Cowan will need to step up with Greene out of the lineup.
A Complete Game
Kentucky is 6-1, and one could argue that the Wildcats have done so without yet playing a complete game.
“We still haven’t put together a complete game,” Will Stein said in his weekly press conference. “That’s my challenge to our guys: Can we play all three phases for four quarters of football?”
The Wildcats have found ways to win, which is priority number one, but now in the second half of the season, with dreams of a College Football Playoff berth, they need to be able to put a complete game together. They have an opportunity to do that against the last-place team in the SEC.
“We’ve made mistakes in all three phases over the course of the last seven games. We’ve made mistakes as coaches over the last seven games. It’s about improvement, constant growth, and hitting our stride, and really playing our best football this time of year.”
Key Players
QB Jared Curtis, 6-3, 230 lbs
- 1,242 passing yards
- 6 TDs – 7 INTs
WR Junior Sherrill, 5-11, 200 lbs
- 628 receiving yards (11th nationally, 3rd in the SEC)
- 41 receptions (4th in the SEC)
- 4 TDs
RB Sedrick Alexander, 5-9, 207 lbs
- 270 rushing yards
- 61 carries
- 5 TDs
Kentucky Wildcats vs.Vanderbilt Commodores
- Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on October 24, 2026
- Location: Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky
- TV Channel: SEC Network will have coverage for this game.
- Announcers: Matt Schumacker, Aaron Murray, and Taylor Davis will be on the call.
- Online Stream: ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
- Radio: Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro have the UK radio call on the UK Sports Network.
- Satellite Radio: XM Channel 203, Sirius Channel 98, Internet Channel 966
- Replay: ESPN+ and SEC Network (check local listings).
- Rosters:UK | VANDY
- Stats to Know:UK | VANDY
- Advanced Stats
- Weather.com Forecast: Mid-to-low 50s with clear skies at kickoff.
- Odds:FanDuel Sportsbook has Kentucky listed as 10.5-point favorites, with a point total of 50.5. ESPN has the Wildcats as a significant favorite, giving them an 85.4% win probability.
- Predictions:TeamRankings picks Kentucky to win their first double-digit SEC game since Texas A&M, 31-20. DRatings.com also projects the Wildcats to win, but by a slightly smaller margin of 31-24. Mark Story of the Lexington Herald-Leader has Kentucky winning 33-24. Kentucky can’t overlook this game as they did against South Alabama a few weeks ago. That said, this team has won three straight SEC games and has found a way to win with their backs against the wall. I am going with a 31-17 victory, Kentucky!
Send us your score predictions in the comments section!
And Go Cats!!