Good afternoon, BBN!

As we wait for the start of the 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football season, now’s a great time to look at the upcoming schedule and scout the opponents. This week, we start with UL Monroe at Kroger Field. September 4th can’t come soon enough.

Let’s get started!

UL Monroe

When: September 4th

Where: Kroger Field

All-Time Series: UK leads 4-1

The ‘Cats last played the Warhawks in 2014, winning 48-14 at home. The 2006 win was a nailbiter in which they only won by two, and in 1994 they actually lost 21-14 (ouch). They’re also only the third Sun Belt team they’ve played, also facing Texas State once in 2006 and Louisiana in 2005.

The Warhawks were one of the worst teams in the FBS last season, and that probably won’t be any different this time around. They finished a putrid 0-10 and lost by 50 to Louisiana. So, um, yeah they aren’t very good. Which makes them a great opponent to slap on the schedule! This will be a great chance for the ‘Cats to get warmed up before getting into the SEC (as opposed to last year’s road opener with the Auburn Tigers).

If they win it’ll make Mar Stoops 50-50, as this will be his 100th game as head coach. It’ll also make him 11 wins away from breaking Bear Bryant’s record of most wins as a UK football coach (60). On top of that, it’ll make Kentucky 6-3 in openers under Stoops and be their 12th consecutive nonconference win (the last time they lost to a nonconference foe was the Music City Bowl against Northwestern.

Prediction: It’ll probably be a nice, sunny noon game and the ‘Cats should win big behind three touchdowns from Joey Gatewood or Beau Allen. ‘Cats win 46-10 and get tuned up for Mizzou.