When college football observers think about the University of Kentucky, “underrated” usually isn’t the first descriptor that comes to mind.
However, Brett McMurphy of On3 Sports released a graphic that grabbed the attention of UK fans across the Commonwealth and the country. The Cats landed at No. 14 on the “AP Poll Voters’ Top 25 Most Underrated Teams Since 2014” list.
What does that even mean? McMurphy explained it this way:
“Identifying the CFP era’s most overrated and underrated programs is simple.
Overrated teams must start the season ranked but fail to meet expectations. Conversely, underrated teams either begin unranked and finish ranked, or significantly outperform their preseason position.”
Kentucky was one of five SEC programs on the list, joining Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
Every SEC team deals with the same relentless reality of ensuring a brutal schedule year after year. For programs like Kentucky and the others mentioned above, earning an “underrated” label makes sense considering the preseason outlook is almost always stacked against them.
If there’s ever been a season where Big Blue Nation has overachieving on its radar, it’s year one of the Will Stein era. Unsurprisingly, the Cats will be up against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Stein addressed that head‑on at SEC Media Days last month.
“I’m very excited to compete in the Southeastern Conference. This is where the best players and coaches come to play football,” Stein said. “All 16 have a top‑20 hardest schedule per ESPN — all 16. They say that I’m the fourth hardest, okay? If you want to compete against the best, you come to the SEC. You just do. It’s the closest thing to the NFL. It’s proven. Almost every game comes down to the last possession. Home‑field advantage is real in this league. I love it.”
For most fans, the measuring stick this season will be a simple one, and that’s to reach bowl eligibility.
If Kentucky goes bowling this winter, Stein will almost certainly walk away with a strong grade in his debut season as a head coach. But if you’ve followed Stein at all this offseason, you know his expectations stretch far beyond what most college football insiders would ever project.
“We’ve added 45 players. It’s my job as head coach to play for the name on the front of their jerseys. It’s a selfish world. Our players must understand and be fully invested in sacrificing personal glory for team success. To wear the blue and white is an honor. To represent the Commonwealth and Big Blue Nation is a privilege that our players and coaches will not take for granted.” Stein said.
Is it Game Day yet?
