Where Kentucky stands in early top 25 rankings for 2019

The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off of a historic 10-3 football season, winning double-digit games for the first time since 1977.

The exciting run was capped by a Citrus Bowl victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions on January 1st, and now the sights are shifting to the 2019 season.

The final AP Poll has Kentucky as the No. 12 team in the country, also their highest finish since 1977.

As early polls for next year start to emerge, the expectations for Kentucky have been mixed.

If you check the ESPN poll, for example, you will not find Kentucky’s name anywhere.

ESPN Early Top 25

1. Clemson Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
6. Oklahoma Sooners
7. Florida Gators
8. Texas Longhorns
9. Texas A&M Aggies
10. LSU Tigers
11. Michigan Wolverines
12. Oregon Ducks
13. Washington State Cougars
14. UCF Knights
15. Syracuse Orange
16. Washington Huskies
17. Penn State Nittany Lions
18. Utah Utes
19. Northwestern Wildcats
20. Iowa State Cyclones
21. Wisconsin Badgers
22. Missouri Tigers
23. Auburn Tigers
24. Nebraska Cornhuskers
25. Army Black Knights

Like ESPN’s rankings, CBS Sports did not include Kentucky in their top 25 but, did have the entire top four being teams from the SEC.

CBS Sports Top 25

1. Clemson Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. LSU Tigers
5. Oklahoma Sooners
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
7. Oregon Ducks
8. Florida Gators
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10. Michigan Wolverines
11. Texas Longhorns
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. Washington Bulldogs
15. Utah Utes
16. UCF Knights
17. Wisconsin Badgers
18. Nebraska Cornhuskers
19. Iowa State Cyclones
20. Iowa Hawkeyes
21. Washington State Cougurs
22. Army Black Nights
23. Minnesota Golden Gophers
24. Virginia Tech Hokies
25. Northwestern Wildcats

SB Nation is also showing Kentucky some love at No. 19:

Other major sites to leave Kentucky out of their rankings include: NCCA.com, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News.

Stadium watch’s early rankings give the respect Kentucky earned from their quality 2018 season. The Wildcats check in at 14 in these rankings.

Stewart Mandel over at The Athletic (paid), also gives the Wildcats respect. He believes that, although the Wildcats are losing some major contributors, the foundation is strong in Lexington. He has Kentucky checking in at No. 17 to start next season.

The Wildcats lose the two faces of their historic season, RB Benny Snell and LB Josh Allen, but Mark Stoops’ program appears built to stick around. QB Terry Wilson, WR/KR Lynn Bowden and an O-line that welcomes back injured LT Landon Young should be productive. The defense has to replace more veterans but will lean on LB Kash Daniel and promising youngsters like freshman LBs DeAndre Square and Chris Oats.

The Athletic Top 25

1. Clemson Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. LSU Tigers
6. Oklahoma Sooners
7. Florida Gators
8. Texas Longhorns
9. Oregon Ducks
10. Texas A&M Aggies
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
12. Michigan Wolverines
13. Auburn Tigers
14. Iowa State Cyclones
15. UCF Golden Knights
16. Iowa Hawkeyes
17. Kentucky Wildcats
18. Syracuse Orange
19. Northwestern Wildcats
20. Utah Utes
21. Penn State Nittany Lions
22. Washington Huskies
23. Wisconsin Badgers
24. USC Trojans
25. Cincinnati Bearcats

Kentucky also made the cut in the Washington’s Post round up checking in at number 24.

Patrick Stevens of the Post had this to say about the Wildcats:

“The central figures on both defense (linebacker Josh Allen) and offense (tailback Benny Snell) both depart Lexington after the Wildcats enjoyed a once-in-a-generation season that included an early-season defeat of Florida and a bowl defeat of Penn State. There’s probably some regression due, but Kentucky should retain enough of its identity (and talent) to remain a tough out.”

Washington Post Top 25

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Clemson Tigers
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Oklahoma Sooners
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
6. Michigan Wolverines
7. Oregon Ducks
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
9. Florida Gators
10. Texas Longhorns
11. Washington Huskies
12. LSU Tigers
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. Penn State Nittany Lions
15. Iowa State Cyclones
16. Central Florida Knights
17. Wisconsin Badgers
18. Northwestern Wildcats
19. Stanford Cardinal
20. Washington State Cougars
21. Army Black Knights
22. Iowa Hawkeyes
23. Cincinnati Bearcats
24. Kentucky Wildcats
25. Virginia Cavaliers

Expectations are certainly high in Lexington with strong returners, a great incoming class, and a favorable schedule. Historically, though, the Wildcats have struggled when following a successful season.

After the 10-1 season in 1977, Kentucky followed with a record of 4-6-1. Following the successful 1984 run of 9-3, the team was 5-6 the next year.

Regardless of history, I tend to agree with Mandel that the program in Lexington is in a solid place to move forward under Mark Stoops. While the official preseason poll will not be released for some time, Big Blue Nation can rest easy knowing that there are media members out there giving the Wildcats the respect they deserve.