A preseason ranking from CBS Sports places Kentucky at No. 57 out of all 136 FBS teams, which puts them 15th among the SEC’s 16 teams. This ranking reflects a general perception of the team’s position within a hyper-competitive conference, one that has expanded and continues to dominate the college football landscape. While a No. 57 national ranking might seem low, it’s a testament to the brutal reality of the SEC, where even a team with a solid record can find itself near the bottom of the conference heap. The new-look SEC, with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, has made it even tougher, and Kentucky’s ranking reflects that.
The SEC Juggernaut and Kentucky’s Place in It
The Southeastern Conference has long been regarded as the premier conference in college football, and with the recent additions of the Longhorns and Sooners, it has only solidified its position. The CBS Sports rankings highlight this dominance.1 For example, Texas is ranked No. 1 and Georgia is No.2 5. This concentration of elite talent and established programs makes every conference game a significant challenge. For Kentucky, which has had a number of successful seasons under its head coach, the No. 57 ranking is a sober reminder of the mountain it must climb just to compete for a spot in the upper half of the league. Being ranked 15th among 16 SEC teams means that on paper, Kentucky is considered to be better than only one other team in the conference, which is a tough pill to swallow for a program that has been building momentum. However, preseason rankings are just that—preseason. They’re a snapshot based on returning talent, coaching changes, and recruiting success. They don’t account for the grit and determination that teams display once the season actually begins.
A Look at Kentucky’s Schedule
Kentucky’s schedule for the upcoming season is a gauntlet, and the CBS Sports rankings only underscore how challenging it will be. They face a number of highly ranked opponents, many of whom are within their own conference. This means that a victory against a team like No. 22 Ole Miss, No. 20 Tennessee, or No. 16 South Carolina could provide a massive boost to their national standing. However, the schedule also includes games against the top-ranked Texas and a perennially strong Georgia team. The path to a successful season for Kentucky is narrow. It will require them to pull off upsets and perform at a high level against some of the best teams in the country. A strong performance in these games could see them rise dramatically in the rankings, while a series of losses could send them plummeting. The preseason ranking serves as a benchmark, a point from which to measure their progress throughout the season.
The Role of Rankings and Fan Perception
Preseason rankings like the CBS Sports 136 are often a source of debate and discussion among fans. They can be seen as a sign of respect or a slight, depending on the team and its supporters. For Kentucky fans, a No. 57 ranking is likely to fuel a sense of being overlooked. However, for a team that has a history of outperforming expectations, it could be a motivating factor. The ranking can also influence fan perception of the season. Lower rankings may lower expectations, which could make a successful season feel even more rewarding. On the other hand, it can also create a sense of pessimism before the first snap. The key for Kentucky and its fanbase will be to use this ranking not as a limitation, but as fuel to prove the prognosticators wrong.
CBS Sports Releases FULL 136-Team College Football Rankings – Texas at #1?! This video from CBS Sports provides a broader context to the rankings and explains the methodology used to rank all 136 FBS teams.
