Blue Preview: At Mississippi, can UK air power prevail over Ole Miss ground attack?

No. 7 Kentucky at No. 14 Mississippi

When: Noon (EDT) Saturday.

TV: ESPN.

Announcers: Play-by-play, Sean McDonough; analysis, Todd Blackledge; sideline, Molly McGrath and Todd McShay.

Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1.

Records: Kentucky (4-0, 1-0 SEC); Mississippi (4-0, 0-0 SEC).

Series history: Mississippi leads the series 29-14-1 and has won its past five meetings with Kentucky in Oxford. UK has not beaten the Rebels on their home field since a 24-17 Wildcats win on Oct. 14, 1978.

Most recent meeting: Mississippi rallied from a 28-14 second-half deficit to a 42-41 overtime victory over Kentucky on Oct. 3, 2020, at Kroger Field.

Line: Mississippi is favored by seven points.

The story line

Coming off a so-so showing in a 31-23 victory over MAC foe Northern Illinois, Kentucky takes its big-play passing game to Oxford for a battle of contrasts with Lane Kiffin’s punishing running game. This is a crucial SEC contest for two ambitious programs both trying to remain on the ascension.

The number to watch

Kentucky’s sacks allowed. UK’s struggling pass protection has allowed quarterback Will Levis to be sacked at least three times in every game and 16 times so far in 2022 overall. Against an Ole Miss defense that sacked opposing QBs 13 times in the first three games, can Kentucky protect Levis well enough to let him make plays?

The big threat(s)

Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans. The Ole Miss running backs give the Rebels’ ground game a lethal one-two punch. Judkins, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound true freshman from Pike Road, Ala., has run for 429 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards a carry. Evans, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior transfer from TCU, has 365 rushing yards and four TDs with an average of 6.2 yards a carry. Evans did not play after halftime in Mississippi’s 35-27 win over Tulsa last week due to what Lane Kiffin called “a medical thing.” The status of Evans for Saturday’s game is a big story to monitor this week.

On the spot

Christopher Rodriguez. After a four-game suspension, the Kentucky star running back will make his season debut Saturday in Oxford. Can the 5-11, 224-pound senior who ran for 1,378 yards last season put a charge in what has been a sluggish UK running game so far in 2022?

The mood

Is apprehensive. Kentucky backers entered 2022 with high hopes for the Cats, but UK’s struggles in pass protection and run blocking have sewn the seeds of doubt even as the Wildcats have started 4-0. As Kentucky visits Mississippi seeking its second SEC road victory of the year (Florida), the fact that the Cats are again being doubted could provide a familiar motivational impetus for Mark Stoops’ troops.

This story was originally published September 26, 2022 at 9:56 AM.

Mark Story

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-444-4731

Mark Story has worked in the Lexington Herald-Leader sports department since Aug. 27, 1990, and has been a Herald-Leader sports columnist since 2001. I have covered every Kentucky-Louisville football game since 1994, every UK-U of L basketball game but three since 1996-97 and every Kentucky Derby since 1994. Support my work with a digital subscription