Ohio (2-1) will face an uphill battle this weekend when it takes on Kentucky (1-2), a South Eastern Conference opponent. The Wildcats' roster is full of talent and features several potential NFL players.
After a loss to start the season, Ohio has gathered itself well with back-to-back wins in the last two weeks. Quarterback Parker Navarro and the offense had a week to forget in Week Three with four total turnovers and will be looking to rebound on the road against a high-powered Kentucky defense. The Bobcat defense will walk into Kroger Field coming off its best performance of the season where it did not allow a touchdown against Morgan State.
Kentucky hasn’t had a memorable start to the season. However, it is coming off of a hard-fought 1-point loss to No. 1 ranked Georgia. The Wildcats enter with back-to-back losses after getting little production from their offense to start. Kentucky has not scored a touchdown since Week One.
Here is everything you need to know before Ohio's trip to Lexington this weekend.
Head coach
In his 12th season with Kentucky, head coach Mark Stoops has transcended the football program. Stoops holds several school records for the Wildcats, which include a program-leading 63 total wins, 30 wins against the SEC and 11 wins against SEC opponents.
In his weekly press conference, Ohio coach Tim Albin praised Stoops, saying that upon Stoops’s retirement, a statue should be built to celebrate his successes.
Quarterback
Brock Vandargriff entered his first season with Kentucky as a transfer who garnered plenty of national attention. Coming from No. 1 ranked Georgia, the Kentucky program had high expectations for Vandargriff. After a 1-2 start to the season, it’s hard to gauge whether the junior quarterback has met these expectations.
Last week, in Kentucky’s 1-point loss to Georgia, Vandargriff was unable to throw for a passing touchdown. However, he did tally 114 passing yards without a turnover.
In three games to start the season, Vandargriff has thrown for 313 yards and three touchdowns while having two interceptions.
Running back
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye was a bright spot in Kentucky's lackluster offensive performance against Georgia last week and a leader on offense in the team's slow start overall. Sumo-Karngbaye has rushed for over 75 yards per game so far. Ohio will look to stop the 6-foot running back despite having an injured linebacker core.
Jason Patterson and Jamarion Wilcox are also in the running back room behind Sumo-Karngbaye, each of which has had minimal impact so far.
Wide Receiver
Kentucky’s wide receiver room features two NFL draft prospects who have each had good starts to the season.
Barion Brown, the Wildcats leader in receiving touchdowns this season, is an expected NFL draft pick that will be difficult for Ohio to stop. In addition to his two touchdowns, Brown has seven catches for 62 yards.
Dane Key, one of the better receivers in the SEC this year, currently leads Kentucky in total yards with 119 despite being unable to find the endzone yet this season.
Defense
Kentucky football is a team that has been led by its defense.
Led by Deon Walker, a projected first-round pick, the Wildcat defense allowed only 13 points in the team's loss to No. 1 ranked Georgia. Linebacker D'Eryk Jackson is currently the team's leader in total tackles with 15.
Zion Childress has also had an excellent start to his season with five tackles for a loss in the team's first three games.
