Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky
Info to Know
| Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky | When: Sat., Sept. 9, 3 p.m. ET | Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, Ky. | TV: SEC Network Plus | Radio: UK Sports Network |
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Preview
The University of Kentucky football program returns home to host regional foe Eastern Kentucky for its first midday contest of the season. The game will serve as the program’s annual Heroes Day, with discounted ticket prices available for military, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services and government employees. It will also serve as Youth Sports and Activities Day, Kentucky Cheer Youth Day and Kentucky Dance Day, with more details about each of those promotions available at UKathletics.com.
The Wildcats are playing host to the Colonels for the sixth time in program history Saturday, just one week removed from both of the program’s season openers. UK is coming off a 44-14 triumph over Ball State last weekend, while EKU suffered a 66-13 defeat at Cincinnati.
Cat Scratches: Coen, UK Offense ‘Hungry’ Heading Into Week 2
In Kentucky’s season opening win against Ball State, the Cats scored on offense, defense and special teams. Because of that, and due to Ball State maintaining possession for much of the second half of Saturday’s game, the UK offense only ran 51 plays in a 44-14 win.
On Tuesday, Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen was asked about his team’s mindset coming into a new week of practice.
“Hungry,” Coen said. “By no means, when you look at the tape and you see how much was left out there, you’re hungry. You average seven yards a play, did some good things from an explosive standpoint. But the consistent execution, consistent details, snap in and snap out. You could tell in today’s practice that there was more of a sense of urgency from a communication and details standpoint.”
Coen knows that football is a team game and a win is a win. Still, he and his unit were affected by how they played against Ball State…Read More
Kentucky-Eastern Kentucky Series
• Kentucky leads all meetings with Eastern Kentucky, 5-0, in a series that dates back to 1998.
• All five games were held in Lexington.
• The last time the two teams squared off was on Sept. 9, 2017, when UK defeated EKU, 27-16.
• The Wildcats’ largest win was the first meeting between the two teams in 1998, when the Cats defeated the Colonels, 52-7.
• The teams had a nailbiter in 2015, when the Wildcats rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, then nipped the Colonels in the first OT, 34-27.
Kentucky-Eastern Kentucky Connections
• The Colonels’ roster has four players from the city of Lexington, including wide receivers Isaiah Allen and Jalen Burbage and defensive linemen Jayshaun Coffman and John Sualla.
• EKU head coach Walt Wells served as a quality control assistant at Kentucky in 2018 and 2019.
• EKU quarterbacks coach Maxwell Smith is a former Kentucky quarterback from 2011 to 2013.
• He also served a graduate assistant at UK from 2018-2020.
• EKU tight ends coach C.J. Conrad is a former Kentucky tight end from 2015 to 2018.
• He also served a graduate assistant and quality control coach from 2020-22.
A UK Win Would…
• Give UK its 21st nonconference win in its last 22 nonconference games (includes bowl games).
• Give UK its 18th straight nonconference win in the regular season.
• Give UK its 16th straight nonconference win at Kroger Field.
• Extend head coach Mark Stoops’ all-time school records for wins to 68 and home wins to 48.
By the Numbers
2
Tackles needed by UK linebacker Trevin Wallace to reach 100 tackles in his career
17
Consecutive nonconference wins for Kentucky, the nation’s third longest streak in that category
48
Career field goals for UK’s Alex Raynor, which is tied for sixth nationally among all active FBS players
50
Career games played by UK kicker Chance Poore, most among all Kentucky players
2,609
Career rushing yards for UK running back Ray Davis, which is sixth nationally among all FBS players
