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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
- Clemson Tigers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Florida Gators
- Texas Longhorns
- Texas A&M Aggies
- LSU Tigers
- Michigan Wolverines
- Oregon Ducks
- Washington State Cougars
- UCF Knights
- Syracuse Orange
- Washington Huskies
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Utah Utes
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Missouri Tigers
- Auburn Tigers
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- 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
- Clemson Tigers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- LSU Tigers
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Florida Gators
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Michigan Wolverines
- Texas Longhorns
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Washington Bulldogs
- Utah Utes
- UCF Knights
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Washington State Cougurs
- Army Black Nights
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Northwestern Wildcats
SB Nation is also showing Kentucky some love at No. 19:
Here's your Top 25 for next CFB season!
— SB Nation (@SBNation) January 8, 2019
1 Clemson
2 Bama
3 OSU
4 UGA
5 LSU
6 Michigan
7 Oklahoma
8 Texas
9 Florida
10 Washington
11 Texas A&M
12 Oregon
13 Auburn
14 PSU
15 WSU
16 Syracuse
17 VT
18 UCF
19 UK
20 Utah
21 Miss St
22 Where Jalen Hurts is
23 Northwestern
24 USC
25 Neb
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.
Clemson is No. 1 in our postseason Top 25 rankings. #CFBPlayoff
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) January 8, 2019
https://t.co/rIqyh6kWDd pic.twitter.com/zXMWBH6DNH
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
- Clemson Tigers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- LSU Tigers
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Florida Gators
- Texas Longhorns
- Oregon Ducks
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Michigan Wolverines
- Auburn Tigers
- Iowa State Cyclones
- UCF Golden Knights
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Syracuse Orange
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Utah Utes
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Washington Huskies
- Wisconsin Badgers
- USC Trojans
- 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
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Clemson Tigers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Michigan Wolverines
- Oregon Ducks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Florida Gators
- Texas Longhorns
- Washington Huskies
- LSU Tigers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Central Florida Knights
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Stanford Cardinal
- Washington State Cougars
- Army Black Knights
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- Kentucky Wildcats
- 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.