That journey begins Saturday night at Kroger Field.

Lightning was once again detected within 8 miles of Kroger Field. As a result, both teams headed to their respective locker rooms. Kentucky leads, 31-0, at the 9:56 mark of the third quarter.

Brock Vandagriff is up to three TD passes on the night, this time hitting Jordan Dingle for a 5-yard score.

Brock Vandagriff and Barion Brown connect for their second TD of the night. And just like the first, it was a 12-yard pass.

Running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye punches it in from the 1-yard line to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive.

UK placekicker Alex Raynor’s first field goal try of the 2024 season is true, as he knocks it in from 41 yards away.

After tossing an interception on his opening drive, Brock Vandagriff rebounds on Possession 2: He found Barion Brown in the right corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score.

Kentucky and Southern Miss returned to the field at 9:40 p.m.

Per UK Athletics, the game will kick off at 10:05 p.m.

Read more here.

UK Athletics offered its latest update on a potential kickoff at 9:20 p.m.

“Officials and teams will re-evaluate the time the teams can retake the field for warmups at 9:35 p.m. ET,” UK Athletics posted on X. “We are following SEC and NCAA protocols on next steps. We (will) provide updates after the next meeting.”

Read more here.

Kickoff from Kroger Field won’t occur before 9 p.m. Saturday.

“Teams and officials will reconvene at 8:50 p.m. ET and we will provide more information after that,” UK Athletics posted on X.

Read more here.

An official start time for Saturday’s game at Kroger Field is still in limbo, per UK Athletics.

Read more here.

Arguably the best player — for either team — in tonight’s game is ready to don his pads and line up.

If only Mother Nature would cooperate for Deone Walker, the Kentucky defensive lineman named to nearly every preseason All-America team imaginable heading into the 2024 campaign.

The 8:15 kickoff time is null and void. During pregame warmups, the teams returned to the locker room after lightning strikes in the area.  The Wildcats and Golden Eagles are tenatively scheduled to return to the field for warmups at 8:20 p.m., per UK Athletics.

Read more here.

Saturday’s contest between Kentucky and Southern Miss is tentatively slated to begin at 8:15 p.m., per UK Athletics.

Read more here.

Inclement weather has postponed the start of Saturday’s game between Kentucky and Southern Miss at Kroger Field. A start time is still to be determined.

Read more here.

Fans finally were allowed into the stadium Saturday night, less than an hour before the 7:45 p.m. kickoff at Kroger Field.

Kroger Field’s gates opened at approximately 6:47 p.m. The stadium had been closed to spectators because of lightning detected in the area.

Kickoff for tonight’s game has not been pushed back from its slated 7:45 p.m start time. Not yet, anyway.

But inclement weather has played a part in other ways: Kentucky’s pregame Cat Walk moved indoors because of lightning in the area. The Wildcats‘ team arrival also was closed to the public.

The Kroger Field gates also remain closed to spectators. When gates will open is still to be determined.

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
• Time: 7:45 p.m.
• Location: Kroger Field

• TV channel: SEC Network
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
• Radio: UK Sports Network (840 AM in Louisvillel 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington)

Kentucky vs. Southern Miss will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will call the game from the booth at Kroger Field, with Cole Cubelic reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

• Series record: Kentucky leads, 3-1
• Kentucky’s last win: 2017 (24-17)
• Southern Miss’ last win: 2016 (44-35)

Kentucky 34, Southern Miss 10: The Golden Eagles added numerous players from power conferences via the transfer portal during the offseason. Those additions won’t be nearly enough to send Kentucky to a season-opening loss, however, as coach Mark Stoops and Co. begin the 2024 campaign 1-0.

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Kentucky is a 24 ½-point favorite at home
• Over/under: 50
• Moneyline: Kentucky, -5000; Southern Miss, +1800

Kentucky has its share of players dealing with injuries. Presumed starting running back Chip Trayanum is out with a hand injury. A trio of UK defensive linemen (Josaih Hayes, Tavion Gadson and Darrion Henry-Young) are out indefinitely. Kentucky offensive lineman Courtland Ford also will miss an extended period of time.

The high is 94 degrees with thunderstorms and an 92% chance of rain in the forecast.

• Aug. 31: Southern Miss ∣ 7:45 p.m.
• Sept. 7: South Carolina ∣ 3:30 p.m
• Sept. 14: Georgia ∣ 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: Ohio ∣ 12:45 p.m.
• Sept. 28: at Ole Miss ∣ Noon
• Oct. 12: Vanderbilt
• Oct. 19: at Florida
• Oct. 26: Auburn
• Nov. 2: at Tennessee
• Nov. 16: Murray State ∣ 1:30 p.m.
• Nov. 23: at Texas
• Nov. 30: Louisville

Record: 0-0

Buy Kentucky football tickets this season with StubHub

• Aug. 31: at Kentucky
• Sept. 7: Southeastern Louisiana
• Sept. 14: USF
• Sept. 21: at Jacksonville State
• Oct. 5: Louisiana
• Oct. 12: at Louisiana Monroe
• Oct. 19: Arkansas State
• Oct. 26: at James Madison
• Nov. 9: Marshall
• Nov. 16: at Texas State
• Nov. 23: South Alabama
• Nov. 30: at Troy

Record: 0-0

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.