:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67217515/intro_football.13.jpg)
The Kentucky Wildcats’ 2020 season is already underway, but there has already been some big changes made due to coronavirus outbreaks with various SEC teams.
The games that changed on Kentucky’s schedule are the matchups with the Missouri Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs. Instead of playing Georgia in Week 5 and Missouri in Week 6 of the SEC season, the Wildcats will now play Missouri in Week 5 at 4 pm EST and Georgia in Week 6 at noon. Both games can be seen on the SEC Network.
The Missouri game could be the only road game Kentucky is favored in this season, as the other remaining three are against teams currently ranked in the top 25.
The following week, the Cats are in Lexington to host Georgia, who is once again the heavy favorite to win the SEC East. This is arguably the second-toughest game on Kentucky’s schedule behind only the road game at Alabama. And because of the schedule changes, Georgia will get a bye in Week 5 before facing the Cats in Week 6, so an already-challenging game just got more difficult.
The Cats’ much-needed bye comes in Week 7, which is followed very winnable home game vs. Vanderbilt in Week 8. Heck, it’s the easiest game left on Kentucky’s schedule. South Carolina was the other contender for that distinction, but they crushed the Dores 41-7 in Week 3.
Week 9 is when Kentucky finally travels to Tuscaloosa to face what should be a top-five Alabama team, easily the Cats’ most challenging game of 2020.
Things don’t get much easier in Week 10 as the Cats travel to Gainesville to face a top-25 Florida team that will likely still be in contention for the SEC East crown.
Kentucky’s season finale comes in Week 11 vs. South Carolina, a game that may ultimately decide if the Wildcats make a bowl game.
Because conferences like the SEC won’t play a full 12-game schedule, the NCAA has already decided that all teams will be bowl eligible. So in theory, the Wildcats could finish 3-7 or 4-6 and still make a bowl, though they’ll obviously want to finish at least 5-5 to just about guarantee a postseason berth.
Going forward, if any of Kentucky’s games get changed due to the coronavirus, the SEC is moving such games to Week 12, which is the week of Dec. 12 and was met to be a bye week for the whole league before the SEC Championship Game. Missouri vs. Vanderbilt and LSU vs. Florida have already been moved to Week 12 after their Week 4 games were postponed.
Kentucky Football 2020 Schedule
- Week 1: at Auburn Tigers (Sept. 26)
- Week 2: Ole Miss Rebels (Oct. 3)
- Week 3: Mississippi St. Bulldogs (Oct. 10)
- Week 4: at Tennessee Volunteers (Oct. 17 at noon EST on SEC Network)
- Week 5: at Missouri Tigers (Oct. 24 at 4 pm EST on SEC Network)
- Week 6: Georgia Bulldogs (Oct 31 at noon EST on SEC Network)
- Week 7: BYE
- Week 8 Vanderbilt Commodores (Nov. 14)
- Week 9: at Alabama Crimson Tide (Nov. 21)
- Week 10: at Florida Gators (Nov. 28)
- Week 11: South Carolina Gamecocks (Dec. 5)
- Week 12: BYE
- Week 13: SEC Championship Game
Note: Times and TV channels for Weeks 8-11 will be announced at later dates.