Kentucky enters Week 3 of the season sitting at 1-1 after falling just short of a signature win against Ole Miss. In front of a loud Kroger Field crowd, the Wildcats had their chances but couldn’t generate enough offensive firepower, ultimately falling 30-23 to the Rebels. Mark Stoops’ defense once again held its ground, but the lack of finishing drives proved costly.
Now, Kentucky shifts its attention
to Eastern Michigan, a game that on paper looks like a get-right opportunity. The Eagles come into Lexington at 0-2 following back-to-back losses, including a 28-23 setback against the LIU Sharks. Eastern Michigan’s struggles have been well-documented, and the Wildcats enter Saturday night as heavy favorites.
Kentucky has opened as a huge favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook, which has the Cats listed as 23.5-point favorites.
One major storyline will be Kentucky’s quarterback situation. Zach Calzada, a seventh-year quarterback, left the Ole Miss game with a shoulder injury and did not return. Stoops provided an update afterward, leaving the door open for redshirt freshman Cutter Boley to see more action.
“Yeah, certainly. Let’s just look at it the way it is,” Stoops said. “He’s banged up, I don’t know to what extent (yet), but I would think he would more than likely miss Monday or Tuesday, I would think. But, I want to see Cutter, yeah. I want to see him.”
While Calzada’s experience is valuable, this matchup offers the perfect chance to evaluate Boley against an opponent that Kentucky should be able to defeat easily. His ability to settle into the offense could determine how Kentucky approaches SEC play moving forward.
Eastern Michigan has already faced SEC competition this year, opening its season with a 55-0 loss to Florida. The Eagles were outclassed from the start, finishing with just 86 total yards and only two first downs in the game. Their struggles on both sides of the ball continued last week against LIU, where they allowed nearly 500 yards of offense.
Statistically, the Eagles’ defense has been a liability, giving up 248 passing yards and 231 rushing yards to LIU. Meanwhile, their offense has been inconsistent, totaling just 17 first downs while converting 5-of-12 on third down. Against a disciplined Kentucky defense, moving the chains could be a major challenge.
For Kentucky, this game should be all about growth and development. The defense has been reliable, but offensive consistency remains the key question. The Wildcats have talent in the backfield, but finishing drives will determine if they can build momentum heading into SEC play.
With Kentucky favored heavily, the expectation is clear: take care of business, get younger players valuable reps, and regain confidence before the SEC grind resumes.
