Kentucky vs. Ohio: Game Thread and Pregame Reading

Pregame Reading: The Stakes and the Storylines

The Kentucky Wildcats and Ohio Bobcats will face off on Saturday, September 16th, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and will kick off at 7:30 PM ET. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing 9-4 season in 2022, but they have high hopes for 2023. They return several key players from last year's team, including quarterback Will Levis, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., and wide receiver Dane Key.

The Bobcats are coming off a 3-9 season in 2022, but they are hoping to improve in 2023. They return several key players from last year's team, including quarterback Kurtis Rourke, running back Sieh Bangura, and wide receiver Armani Rogers.

Key Storylines to Watch

• Quarterback play: Will Levis is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but Kurtis Rourke is no slouch either. This will be a great matchup between two talented signal-callers.
• Running game: Kentucky has one of the best running backs in the country in Chris Rodriguez Jr., but Ohio also has a solid running game led by Sieh Bangura.
• Wide receiver play: Both Kentucky and Ohio have talented wide receivers. Kentucky's Dane Key is one of the best in the country, while Ohio's Armani Rogers is a rising star.
• Defense: Kentucky has a solid defense led by linebacker DeAndre Square, but Ohio also has a talented defense led by linebacker Bryce Houston.

Prediction

This is a tough game to predict, but I think Kentucky will win a close one. The Wildcats have more talent and experience than Ohio, and they are playing at home. I predict Kentucky will win 35-27.