Rodriguez back as No. 7 Wildcats invade No. 14 Ole Miss

UK travels to Ole Miss on Saturday in a battle of ranked and unbeaten SEC rivals.

Fast starts have both teams nursing hopes of challenging for division contention, but there’s hardly any margin for error when you're trying to keep up with No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Alabama. 

Kentucky and Ole Miss are coming off 10-win seasons, and the programs don’t seem to be slowing down. The Wildcats have already proven themselves with a victory over then-No. 12 Florida. The Rebels are seeking their first big win of the season.

It’s the first time these teams have met when both were ranked since 1958.

The most obvious matchup is Kentucky’s defense versus the Ole Miss running game. The Rebels lead the SEC and rank fourth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 280.8 yards per game. Freshman Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans are two of the SEC’s top four runners. 

Kentucky’s defense ranks fifth in the SEC and 33rd nationally giving up 108 yards a game on the ground.

The return of Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. f rom a four-game suspension brings even more star power to the backfields. The senior All-SEC back rushed for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns last season and figures to significantly improve an attack averaging just 81.5 yards per game.

Kentucky is going for two streaks the team hasn’t managed since 1977: a third straight win over a ranked opponent and a ninth straight victory. 

Ole Miss, Georgia, Alabama and Minnesota are the only FBS teams averaging 40-plus points a game and allowing 10 or fewer.


Kentucky wide receiver Tayvion Robinson (9) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown while being chased by Northern Illinois cornerback Cyrus McGarrell (22) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)