2025 Kentucky Football Predictions: Wildcats Ranked 52nd in RJ Young's Ultimate 136
Published
Aug. 10, 2025 9:05 p.m. ET
share
x
link
This isn't your average college football ranking.
My Ultimate 136 is a set of rankings that is fluid, but it's my job to look ahead and make a claim for all FBS teams based on what I know and why I know it. Here are the three pressing questions I started by asking when putting together this list:
Who do I think is good?
Why do I think they're good?
What are the chances they will finish above or below my expectations?
Here is a look at where Kentucky lands in my Ultimate 136.
Kentucky Wildcats ranking: 52
Last year's ranking: 28
Top player: QB Zach Calzada: 38 career games (Incarnate Word and Texas A&M) going 23-9 as a starter; has thrown for 8,707 yards and 73 TDs in his collegiate career.
[Kentucky's 2025 schedule]
RJ's take: It's hard to find another SEC coach who likes SEC transfers more than Mark Stoops. This year he'll field former Texas A&M QB Calzada (by way of Incarnate Word), Oklahoma RB Seth McGowan (by way of New Mexico State), Alabama WR Kendrick Law and Oklahoma WR J.J. Hester.
ADVERTISEMENT
I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that Calzada and Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) are the only two QBs playing this year who have beaten No. 1-ranked Alabama, and Calzada did it with Nick Saban on the sideline. Stoops will need that kind of mojo after a 4-8 season that left many Kentucky fans wondering just how it got that bad this fast? Well, I'll tell you: The Wildcats are just 2-12 against SEC opponents in their last 14 home games and 7-18 against opponents for whom it just means more since 2022.
Perhaps this is the time to remind UK fans that Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Ole Miss all come to Lexington in 2025.
[Check out RJ Young's Ultimate 136 College Football Rankings here]
Kentucky Win Total Odds: Over 4.5 (-105) Under 4.5 (-115)
Have an issue with my rankings? Think your alma mater is too low, or your school's rival is too high? Get at me on X, @RJ_Young , and I'll select my favorite tweets and respond to them in a future article.
RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young.
FOLLOW
Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience
College Football
Kentucky Wildcats
share
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
College Football Fans Hoping Paul Finebaum's Promise Comes True
College Football Fans Hoping Paul Finebaum's Promise Comes True originally appeared on The Spun. ESPN's Paul Finebaum may have just wrote a check he can't cash. A few days ago, Finebaum appeared on the "Netflix Sports Club Podcast." As you'd imagine, he talked about the 2025 college football season. During his conversation with Dani Klupenger, the longtime radio personality was asked if an SEC team will win the national championship this season. Finebaum didn't just say the SEC would win the national title, he said he'd leave the United States if a program from his favorite conference fails to win it all. "It is," Finebaum replied. "And by the way, if it's not, I'm leaving the country because I am so sick and tired of being harassed by Big Ten fans on our show." Finebaum vented about the Big Ten for a few seconds before revealing his pick to win it all. As of now, he's riding with the Texas Longhorns. "The Big Ten has literally done nothing. They've won two national championships. Michigan won one two years ago. They've won one and a half national championships, I think, and before that, in 70 years. And they act like they invented football," Finebaum said, via Awful Announcing. "Alabama has won about 15 national championships in my lifetime. Now, I realize that's not a good comparison to a realistic lifespan. But, I believe Texas is going to win; I didn't mean to avoid your question. It's going to end all this. And on January 20, I'll be the happiest man in America because I won't have to listen to the Big Tenners, or as my callers call them, the Little Tenners." The College Football Playoff is several months away, but fans can't wait for it to begin because of Finebaum's promise. His critics would love to see him leave the national spotlight for good. "Someone from the Big Ten plz pull it off so we can get rid of this idiot," one fan wrote on X. "When you make statements like that, you are setting yourself up for extreme scrutiny," a second fan commented. "We can only hope he'll actually leave. There's zero reason anyone should care what that man says about football," another fan said. "Hope Buckeyes take it Maybe Penn State or Michigan. If so. I'll start a go fund me for your airfare," a social media user wrote. Luckily for Finebaum, he just needs any team in the SEC to win in order to stick around. Texas, Georgia, Alabama and LSU are all expected to be top-10 teams this season. Of course, only time will tell if Finebaum eats his own words. College Football Fans Hoping Paul Finebaum's Promise Comes True first appeared on The Spun on Aug 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M OC Collin Klein describes 'fine line' when managing star running back's workload
Texas A&M's 2025 running back room will be led by senior Le'Veon Moss, who is by far one of the most valuable players on the roster. Before his season-ending injury eight games into the 2024 season, Moss led the SEC in rushing, averaging over six yards per carry. After announcing his return early in the offseason, coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein knew that keeping him helping going into the preseason was one of the top priorities. Over the last 11 preseason practices, Moss has participated in drills, including Tuesday's sessions, but did not appear in last Saturday's scrimmage. This has been the plan all along, as the staff chose to keep Moss sidelined during the 15 spring practices, making his return to the field during the Aggies' first preseason practice on July 30. Back in May, during Elko's appearance at the Dallas A&M Club, the second-year head coach stated that Moss would not take any live hits during the preseason period "until we play games," which was further reiterated by Collin Klein during Tuesday's post-practice Q&A. "It's a fine line — I do not think there is a perfect formula," Klein stated regarding Moss's snap workload management. "I think coach (Mike Elko) is doing a great job of trying to walk that line as best as we can. "The best thing about Lev is, he about chews through any bid you put in his mouth. So he wants to go and just get after it. But he has been doing a great job." Before sustaining his season-ending right knee injury, which required surgery in the loss to South Carolina, Moss had his sights set on crossing the century mark in rushing, already gaining 765 yards and ten touchdowns. Before the Aggies take on UTSA on August 30, Texas A&M will hold nine more preseason practices, and while Saturday's scrimmage won't be repeated, a simulated "mock game" will be held in Kyle Field next Thursday. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
DJ Pickett may not be the only LSU football freshman making an impact on defense
LSU football cornerback DJ Pickett will make an immediate impact in 2025. The five-star freshman was one of LSU's most talented defenders the moment he arrived on campus. But he's not the only freshman with a chance to see the field. LSU safety CJ Jimcoily could eventually earn a spot in the rotation, too. Jimcoily was a three-star in the finals Rivals Industry Rankings of 2025 -- not the exact profile of a guy who plays right away in the SEC. But Jimcoily's strong early impression, along with LSU's depth concerns at safety, could work in Jimcoily's favor. Jimcoily is playing the STAR position in Blake Baker's defense. Harold Perkins has a strong grip on the starting spot, but down the depth chart, it's wide open. While the Industry Rankings had Jimcoily as a three-star, Rivals was high on Jimcoliy, ranking the Nashville product as a four-star and No. 13 at his position. At 6-foot-3, Jimcoily has the size you want in a safety/linebacker hybrid. It's exactly what Baker is looking for at the STAR spot. I wouldn't expect Jimcoily to play a lot, or even at all, early. But as LSU enters the stretch and depth is tested, LSU might need the freshman. LSU wasn't afraid to rely on true freshman defenders in 2024. If a guy is ready, Brian Kelly and Baker will put them on the field. Jimcoily could be playing a role when games matter in November.
