Greetings, BBN.

With SEC Media Days rolling on, 247 Sports released a fresh power ranking of all 16 SEC football teams for the upcoming season.

For the Kentucky Wildcats, the bad news is they came in 10th place, so not even in the upper half of the league. Part of that is due to a daunting schedule that will see the Cats play No. 1 Georgia, at No. 2 Texas, at No. 3 Ole Miss, and at No. 5 Tennessee. Woof.

The good news is they’ll face four teams who are lower in the standings: No. 11 Florida, No. 12 Auburn, No. 13 South Carolina, and No. 16 Vanderbilt. So, in short, Kentucky’s schedule features the absolute best and worst of what the SEC looks like this season.

This was also a two-spot rise from when Kentucky checked in at No. 12 in the pre-spring rankings, so progress!

Here’s the excerpt of Kentucky.

Kentucky’s new-look offense begins with Georgia transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff and former Ohio State tailback Chip Trayanum, two gems this cycle. One area of strength this fall will be Kentucky’s size and power in the trenches. Not only do the Wildcats welcome back a veteran-laden offensive front, but defensive tackle Deone Walker has All-SEC potential in the middle and Kentucky is set on rising from the league’s mid-tier into the top half of the conference.

Go Cats!

Tweet of the Day

Soon.

Headlines

SEC power rankings: Texas, Oklahoma strengthen college football’s toughest league at media days – 247

Room to grow for the Cats.

Kentucky Football 2024 Roster Updates in Preseason Media Guide – KSR

See what numbers the Wildcats will wear during the 2024 Kentucky football season.

What Mark Pope wants to find in his UK basketball recruits | Lexington Herald-Leader

Mark Pope and Cody Fueger talk about what the UK basketball team is looking for on the recruiting trail as they target 2025 recruits.

Luke Doty, Alex Huntley reveal why yearly matchup with Kentucky is always chippy – Cats Pause

The rivalry between Kentucky and South Carolina has heated up since Shane Beamer took over as Gamecocks head coach ahead of the 2021 season.

Everyone is talking about Reed Sheppard in the NBA Summer League – KSR

Through two games, Reed Sheppard is the talk of the NBA Summer League, with national media members raving about the former Cat’s performance.

Commissioner Greg Sankey says SEC not recruiting other schools – ESPN

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated Monday that the league is focused on its 16 members, and he is not recruiting any others, during his remarks to open SEC media days.

Open Championship boasts record $17M purse; winner gets $3.1M – ESPN

The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club will boast a record $17 million purse, which is a $500,000 increase from last year. This year’s champion will receive $3.1 million.

Nick Saban Says He Was Denied Entry to SEC Media Day for Not Having Credential – Bleacher Report

As Alabama’s head football coach, Nick Saban was used to having carte blanche to go essentially anywhere he wanted unchecked. Not so much anymore.

Top 20 highest-rated college basketball recruits to enroll at Kansas, Kentucky, UNC or Duke – 247

These college basketball’s blue-blood programs have had their fair share of boom and bust recruits in the modern recruiting era.

10 NFL players nearing the end of notable careers – PFF

PFF takes a look back on the careers of these 10 NFL players who enjoyed periods of excellence but could be in their final seasons this year.

Bears TE Marcedes Lewis looking forward to ‘proving that it can be done one more time’ in 19th season – NFL

Lewis had to wait until June to re-sign with the Bears, but he never wavered on whether or not he would play a remarkable 19th season.

Picking Cover Stars for Every Year EA Sports College Football Video Game Was Dormant – Bleacher Report

It has been more than a decade since EA Sports released a college football game of any kind. The absence has been, well, challenging.

Nurse Credited for Saving Man’s Life with CPR and Defibrillator After Heart Attack in Charlotte Airport – GNN

Cerbie told news media that it was the way he was breathing and snoring that altered her to the heart attack.

Dogs Trained to Sniff Out Post-Traumatic Stress – by Smelling Patients’ Breath – With 90% Accuracy – GNN
Dogs have been trained to sniff out PTSD episodes before they happen by smelling

survivors’ breath—with an accuracy success rate of 90%.