Kentucky checks in at No. 18 in first College Football Playoff Rankings

For the second time since 2018, the Kentucky Wildcats found themselves in the first College Football Playoff Rankings of the season.

This time, the 6-2 Wildcats checked in at No. 18 overall in the first edition of the 2021 rankings. Just ahead of Kentucky are fellow SEC teams Mississippi State (17) and Ole Miss (16).

Kentucky currently does not have a win over a team in the CFP rankings. One of the Wildcats’ losses is to No. 1 Georgia. The other is to No. 17 Mississippi State, so both defeats have come on the road to top-25 teams.

Despite Kentucky being on a two-game losing streak, being 6-2 while playing in the SEC is all but guaranteed of a spot in the CFP rankings, even if the Wildcats have benefitted from a favorable schedule.

Ironically, five of Kentucky’s wins — Louisiana Monroe, Missouri, South Carolina, Florida and LSU — are against teams currently 4-4 on the season. And two of Kentucky’s final four opponents — Tennessee and Louisville — are also currently 4-4. So there’s that.

The highest Kentucky has even been in the CFP rankings was No. 9 during the 2018 season.

Do you agree with Kentucky’s initial CFP ranking? Let us know in the comments section!