A November trip to Texas and other takeaways from Kentucky football’s 2024 schedule reveal
Dates have been set for the 2024 SEC football schedule.
Texas and Oklahoma will officially join the league next summer. The league continues to debate a permanent schedule format with those teams, but for at least one year it will remain at eight conference games. Next season will mark the first time the SEC has played without divisions since 1991.
Here is what you need to know about Kentucky’s 2024 slate.
Early SEC tests
Unlike 2023 when Kentucky eased into action with three nonconference games against Group of Five conference or FCS foes followed by the SEC opener at Vanderbilt, Stoops and company will have little time to work out kinks next season.
The Wildcats open SEC play in week two against a South Carolina team that has won the last two games in the series. Week three will see Kentucky host Georgia in the first September meeting between the two teams since 1942. Those games are sandwiched between nonconference matchups with Southern Miss and Ohio, but we should know much more about the 2024 Wildcats by the time the calendar hits October than we did this season. Kentucky closes September at Ole Miss.
The South Carolina and Georgia games both being at home at least gives Kentucky some help in those matchups, but the pressure will be on to make an early statement. It would be difficult to consider a 3-2 September a disappointment, but if the Wildcats lose their first three SEC games, the lingering disappointment from the last two years will bubble to the surface quickly.
Big Blue Nation will have to wait for first Texas trip
We already knew Kentucky would play at new SEC member Texas in 2024, but Wednesday’s schedule announcement revealed the timing of that matchup.
Heat shouldn’t be an issue for UK’s first trip to Austin since 1951 since the game will close Kentucky’s SEC slate on Nov. 23. The timing of that game might cause some headaches for UK fans hoping to make the trip since it comes on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but the fact Kentucky gets a warm-up game against FCS Murray State the week before at least could provide a competitive boost.
The annual Governor’s Cup rivalry game against Louisville will be played the week after Kentucky travels to Texas. The risk of a hangover after the Texas game will get some attention, but it was not an issue in 2022 when Kentucky lost to No. 1 Georgia a week before beating Louisville.
Off weeks well placed for Kentucky
The calendar makes 2024 the rare year where every SEC team gets two off weeks. Kentucky’s come on Oct. 5 and Nov. 9.
The first off week comes immediately after Kentucky’s trip to Ole Miss. With three SEC games already played by that point, the off week should provide a much-needed rest before a four-game stretch against Vanderbilt, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee that will go a long way to determining whether 2024 will be considered a successful season. The Florida and Tennessee games are on the road.
By the time of Kentucky’s second off week, the Wildcats’ SEC fate will probably already have been determined, but it at least should help manage the physical toll of seven league games before the final stretch against Murray State, Texas and Louisville. Kentucky will hope to have already reached bowl eligibility by that point, but the more likely scenario is the Wildcats will need at least one more win to secure postseason play. The second off week should provide some extra prep time for Texas two weeks later.
2024 Kentucky football schedule
Home games in all capital letters. Kickoff times and broadcast networks to be announced later.
Aug. 31: SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Sept. 7: SOUTH CAROLINA
Sept. 14: GEORGIA
Sept. 21: OHIO
Sept. 28: At Ole Miss
Oct. 5: Open date
Oct. 12: VANDERBILT
Oct. 19: At Florida
Oct. 26: AUBURN
Nov. 2: At Tennessee
Nov. 9: Open date
Nov. 16: MURRAY STATE
Nov. 23: At Texas
Nov. 30: LOUISVILLE