Reality Check: the SEC gets even harder starting next year.

[Blueworld_3.0]

At some point we need to stop fooling ourselves. Stoops has taken this program about as far as he can given his ability and the talent he can get to Lexington. That translates into us being a mid-level SEC program at best. Occasionally finishing a distant 2nd in the SEC East but, mostly 3rd or 4th.
Of course, that's a big step up from battling Vandy for last place on a yearly basis. But, there is NO WAY we will ever compete with Georgia, Alabama and the other power teams in this conference. Those programs are on a whole 'nother level.
And starting next year the SEC gets even harder. Oklahoma and Texas would both smoke this UK team just as badly as Georgia did tonight.
The term "stay in your lane" comes to mind.

 

[TuckyFB]

Thanks for your opinion, basketball pfp.

It's quite interesting to see who has came over to this forum the past few hours. Basketball only fans in complete jubilation.

 

[TuckyFB]

Really? That's all you've got? Divisiveness?
What kind of fvcking pathetic UK fan only cheers for one sport?
You're a troll.

Yeah, I'm sure you didn't mean any "divisiveness" with this line...you ****ing idiot

"The term "stay in your lane" comes to mind"

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

Yeah, I'm sure you didn't mean any "divisiveness" with this line...you ****ing idiot

"The term "stay in your lane" comes to mind"

I can see you're a mental midget so, I'll type slowly.
Reality is UK football is that we simply don't have the resources, staff and personal to compete with the tradition top dogs of the SEC. That's not divisive, that's reality.

 

[MTsandfly]

At some point we need to stop fooling ourselves. Stoops has taken this program about as far as he can given his ability and the talent he can get to Lexington. That translates into us being a mid-level SEC program at best. Occasionally finishing a distant 2nd in the SEC East but, mostly 3rd or 4th.
Of course, that's a big step up from battling Vandy for last place on a yearly basis. But, there is NO WAY we will ever compete with Georgia, Alabama and the other power teams in this conference. Those programs are on a whole 'nother level.
And starting next year the SEC gets even harder. Oklahoma and Texas would both smoke this UK team just as badly as Georgia did tonight.
The term "stay in your lane" comes to mind.

Sad to say I can’t disagree with this. Conference expansion does nothing for schools like us and many, many others. Yes, the SEC can bang their chest and say look at what great programs we have (at the top) but screw the programs that are not traditional national powers.

My understanding is there will be no divisions next year so to get to the SEC title game we would need to be one of the top two teams in the league (The B18 teams have the same issue). So, are planning on finishing ahead of Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, or Tennessee? Let’s go ahead and add Clemson and Florida State as well. So, what are our goals? Maybe we can play for a New Year 6 Bowl game? Oh, by the way, the bowls will have to realign with the conferences. That means the best bowls will have their pick of all the teams I mentioned already.

Look. We already had a lucrative TV package from ESPN, why make the road to anything meaningful just that much more difficult?

Just my $.02.

 

[Glenn's take]

It is what it is. I can tell you I'm going to Austin next year for the Texas game and I'm looking forward to that more than whatever bowl game we go to. Maybe I'm old but I'd rather have a game against a team I'm interested in seeing in a much better game atmosphere that I can plan out in advance versus Iowa in Nashville on a cold New Years Day that I have to throw together. It's long been my stance on playing someone interesting non-conference. I would have more fun at an interesting non-conference game in September than a bowl game in January.

 

[Rivals_Defender]

This is how the league looks next season, ranking best to worst IMO

1. Oklahoma
2. Georgia
3. Texas
4. Ole Miss
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Texas A&M
8. Tennessee
9. Kentucky
10. Missouri
11. South Carolina
12. Arkansas
13. Auburn
14. Florida
15. Mississippi State
16. Vanderbilt

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

This is how the league looks next season, ranking best to worst IMO

1. Oklahoma
2. Georgia
3. Texas
4. Ole Miss
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Texas A&M
8. Tennessee
9. Kentucky
10. Missouri
11. South Carolina
12. Arkansas
13. Auburn
14. Florida
15. Mississippi State
16. Vanderbilt

As much as I hate to say it we lose an awful.lot after 23 season. This is oldest team we have had in several years. We have several running out of eligibility and like always lose a few 3 year players. OU is losing their QB, think both of us are a little high

 

[Dddjdd]

Not sure about OP’s intent, but there is truth that improvement slows down after a while under a coach. Eventually you are what you are. I’ll take Stoops here every day of the week, but people talk about our future like we’re going to improve as much in years 11-15 as we did in years 1-5. I think they need to consider diminishing returns and the conference will be harder on top of that.

But hell we have a great shot at 9 wins this year. Sometimes you just have to be happy with what you have

 

[Rivals_Defender]

OU is losing their QB, think both of us are a little high

OU still easily Top 3 in the SEC. I still think we will stay in the top 10 list of teams. I expect Florida to dump Napier so they will be rebuilding again in 2024. Bama will have a hard time recruiting against Texas, OU and UGA, and I think Saban retires in 2-3 years.

 

[secrules3]

This was our last shot at a GREAT season IMO unless we hit on multiple recruits at once with a star QB.

 

[K_TIME]

Probably correct Stoops was good enough to take Ky from basement to middle class program

1. I’m patient to see if we csn get a good Qb to lift offensively up…hopefully Bolley and Saunders are legit and Coen grooms them well

2. But even if you do move off Stoops…who do you have in mind? This ain’t as easy as pick a dude and we’ll just be better..it’s very likely we drop back as we do move upwards

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

OU still easily Top 3 in the SEC. I still think we will stay in the top 10 list of teams. I expect Florida to dump Napier so they will be rebuilding again in 2024. Bama will have a hard time recruiting against Texas, OU and UGA, and I think Saban retires in 2-3 years.

When Texas opens up and all SEC schools start recruiting it hard I think OU gets hurt the most. UF says Napier will be back in 24, but I don't see many more wins for them unless huge improvements are made. Napier has a top 5 class committed, don't know if UF is willing to risk it and fire him after 2 seasons, he is owed 30m+ if after this year, i assume they are still paying Mullen. If they do I hope Kirby finds a way to bring him on staff at UGA. BUT I agree with you, 4 wins gets him fired.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Sooners and Horns only change things for the top 3-4 programs competing for Atlanta.

The regular rank and file won't be as affected. We play Bama this year, and Texas next year. You swap a loss to Bama with a loss to horns. Our record and season overall don't change. That goes for most programs.

Bama, UGA, LSU will be the most affected. Specifically Bama and LSU because they play one another every year plus either Texas or OU then you figure they'll draw UGA every other year. Like next year, Bama is the one who drew the short straw. They get LSU, OU, and UGA.

Also, I think the road for Texas and OU gets harder than the above-mentioned programs and SEC overall.

Bama and LSU both have been playing in the toughest football division forever and regularly every other year or couple of years will draw a tough opponent or two from the east in addition to their west gauntlet.

Oklahoma and Texas however have never played a schedule like they are about to play.

Sooners next year...Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, and a solid Ole Miss who can compete with anyone...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH....welcome to the f84king SEC boys!

Sooners could easily start off with 3-4 conference losses and not even sniff Atlanta or play offs.

Horns got off easy comparatively, but I bet they're going to draw a similar schedule the following season.

 

[Ldgator]

Florida has the youngest two-deep in the country and currently has a top 5 recruiting class. Napier isn’t going anywhere, but will most likely hire an OC in the off season.

 

[Emarc]

Thanks for your opinion, basketball pfp.

It's quite interesting to see who has came over to this forum the past few hours. Basketball only fans in complete jubilation.

What a selfish, football fan only response

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I dont see anything in the OP that's not true. It's unfortunate but true.

I interpret the stay n your lane comment as fans need to temper their expectations. Not sure why the angry poster felt he had to bring another sport into the convo.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

I dont see anything in the OP that's not true. It's unfortunate but true.

I interpret the stay n your lane comment as fans need to temper their expectations. Not sure why the angry poster felt he had to bring another sport into the convo.

That is exactly what I meant.
It's OK to expect to compete...which we did not do Sat. night. But, we aren't ever going to be a serious threat to the Georgia's, Bama's and Texas/Oklahoma's of the SEC.
That guy was triggered by someone telling things like they are.

 

[NoDef]

A Missouri team without much past history came in and won the east within a couple of years. South Carolina never competed but won the east when the hired a former national title coach. UK and Vandy are the only two teams to not win their side of the conference and neither team has really came close. Vandy was at peak with Franklin went to the top half of the conference on just a couple of years and we have been in a decade plus with Stoops.. Im still happy I guess because of all the terrible seasons we've had in the past.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

A Missouri team without much past history came in and won the east within a couple of years. South Carolina never competed but won the east when the hired a former national title coach. UK and Vandy are the only two teams to not win their side of the conference and neither team has really came close. Vandy was at peak with Franklin went to the top half of the conference on just a couple of years and we have been in a decade plus with Stoops.. Im still happy I guess because of all the terrible seasons we've had in the past.

Missouri winning the SEC East back to back years is one of the most baffling events ever. The year sc won the east was pretty pathetic overall.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

I can't decide if this is the realist or most defeatist thread I've read here. I'll say that expansion of the playoffs gives hope that Kentucky can have a meaningful run without needing to win the SEC.

 

[katwest]

Missouri winning the SEC East back to back years is one of the most baffling events ever. The year sc won the east was pretty pathetic overall.

The two years they won the east was as down as the east has ever been, as you can see, they haven't gotten close since. Pinkel got out before reality set in for him.

 

[megablue]

Many older folks will remember the story about when Jerry Claiborne was on a small airplane trip to Michigan to recruit and thought deeply about the SEC moving from 6 to 7 conference games ... he said it was then he decided to retire.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I can't decide if this is the realist or most defeatist thread I've read here. I'll say that expansion of the playoffs gives hope that Kentucky can have a meaningful run without needing to win the SEC.

Gonna have to go 10 and 2 to make the playoff with 12 teams IMO.

Don't see that happening the longer we get into NIL. Hell, Stoops choked in 2018 and 2021 and couldn't do it.

 

[grevey35]

Gonna have to go 10 and 2 to make the playoff with 12 teams IMO.

Don't see that happening the longer we get into NIL. Hell, Stoops choked in 2018 and 2021 and couldn't do it.

You regard 2 of the best seasons in school history as choke jobs?

 

[Deeeefense]

I don't buy the hype around these two teams. We aren't taking into two more Alabamas.
Over the last 5 years Texas is 43-24, that compares with teams like A&M at 43-22 or Kentucky at 44-23.

Oklahoma fairs a little better at 56-15, that's more than the mid tier SEC teams but not as good as the top tier teams like Bama at 66-8 and Georgia at 63-9. Bear in mind that these teams have played easier schedules than SEC teams.

So I think we are essentially adding a mid tier team and an upper mid-tier team, but not two more elite teams like the hype machine is feeding us.

 

[Docpath1972]

I think the OP is correct in the elimination of divisions. This will lessen the chance of one division being down with no regard for the strength of the other. If they ever go to a nine game conference schedule with the proposed 3 fixed-6 rotating opponents with the goal that every team play a home and away every four years meaning that over a four year period, UK would play 4 games with Georgia, 2 ith Bama, 2 with the Vols, 2 with Texas, 2 with OU, 2 with LSU, 2 with UF, while some are down, I didn’t include those programs that occasionally move up such as Auburn or Ole Miss, which is currently doing well. Add them up and that is 16 games every four years or four each year. Just going 2-2 in those games already gives you two losses. Add in that you will lose a home game each and so it goes. I’ve stated before and still believe that even with the expanded playoffs the above scenario will make it more different for SEC teams to secure a spot. Even one of the top two will have an additional loss after the championship game. The hatred/envy of the SEC will make it unlikely that a three loss SEC team will be valued more highly than a 1-2 loss team from another major conference. I think it was this analysis that led Saban, who for a decade argued for a nine game schedule, scuttled the proposal for the present. The TV dollars and masters may ultimately demand it.