Three SEC fanbases with their hands on the panic button ahead of Saturday's matchups
By Kevin Miller
3 SEC Fanbases with Hands on the Panic Button:
Kentucky Wildcats
In the only SEC vs. SEC contest so far in the 2024 season, Mark Stoops' team laid a huge egg against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Carolina dominated in the trenches, pressuring the quarterback and beating Kentucky physically so badly that offensive coordinator Bush Hamden gave up on trying to throw the ball.
Stoops seemed completely flummoxed during his in-game interviews and post-game press conference appearance, and the Big Blue Nation has started to turn against their all-time winningest coach. Not helping matters was the Wildcat headman's flirtation with Texas A&M during the offseason.
Remaining on the UK schedule are four contests against top-10 opponents, a road game against Florida (the 'Cats have beaten the Gators in Gainesville just twice in the last 45 years), a rivalry game against ranked Louisville, and two more SEC contests. Finding 6 wins and a bowl game could be difficult for the 2024 version of the Wildcats, and that will get even more difficult after this weekend.
Kentucky has to play the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, and chances are, Commonwealth Stadium will empty before the 4th quarter for the second week in a row. The 'Cats don't have to beat Georgia to stave off an angry blue and white mob, but they've got to show some life on Saturday. If the 'Dawgs blow out Kentucky, things could get ugly.
An expected 1-2 start could lead to a spiral in Lexington. With at least 7 wins in 7 of the past 8 seasons, UK football fans have been spoiled compared to their historical expectations, but with a third straight season with a losing record in SEC play incoming, the once apathetic football fanbase in the Bluegrass State could be in full-on panic mode after this weekend.