Hot Cats
By Travis
I usually leave the UK football posts to the diehards, but Pat Forde’s latest column on ESPN.com’s college football page got me thinking …
What college football team has had a better full season (13 games, including postseason) dating back to last season?
The Cats are 11-2 since last year’s 49-0 loss to LSU with losses against Tennessee in the 2006 regular season finale and two weeks ago against South Carolina. Only Ohio State (12-1, 7-0 in 2007), Hawaii (12-1, 7-0), LSU (12-1, 6-1) and Boise State (12-1, 5-1) have a better record over their last 13 games:
OSU 12-1 (7-0)
Hawaii 12-1 (7-0)
LSU 12-1 (6-1)
Boise St. 12-1 (5-1)
BC 11-2 (7-0)
USF 11-2 (6-0)
OU 11-2 (6-1)
Va. Tech 11-2 (6-1)
UK 11-2 (6-1)
Cincy 11-2 (6-1)
Wisconsin 11-2 (5-2)
Florida 11-2 (4-2)
BYU 11-2 (4-2)
Arizona State 10-3 (7-0)
Texas Tech10-3 (6-1)
Cal 10-3 (5-1)
USC 10-3 (5-1)
WVU 10-3 (5-1)
Auburn 10-3 (5-2)
Penn St. 10-3 (5-2)
Troy 10-3 (4-2)
Kansas 9-4 (6-0)
S. Carolina 9-4 (6-1)
UVa. 9-4 (6-1)
UGa. 9-4 (5-2)
Michigan 9-4 (5-2)
Rutgers 9-4 (4-2)
Wyoming 9-4 (4-2)
UofL 9-4 (4-3)
UK shows up ahead of super powers like USC, Michigan and Notre Dame. The Cats are also the hottest team in the Southeastern Conference over their last 13 games and tied for an 11-2 record with defending national champion Florida, who visits Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.
The Bowl Championship Series rankings also support UK’s hot streak. Even though skeptics like ESPN’s Craig James have UK ranked as low as No. 24 in the latest Associated Press rankings. The Cats are No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the USA Today coaches’ poll but seventh in the BCS rankings:
1. Ohio State (7-0)
2. South Florida (6-0)
3. Boston College (7-0)
4. LSU (6-1)
5. Oklahoma (6-1)
6. South Carolina (6-1)
7. UK (6-1)
8. Arizona State (7-0)
9. West Virginia (5-1)
10. Oregon (5-1)
11. Virginia Tech (6-1)
12. Cal (5-1)
13. Kansas (6-0)
14. USC (5-1)
15. Florida (4-2)
16. Missouri (5-1)
17. Auburn (5-2)
18. Hawaii (7-0)
19. Virginia (6-1)
20. Georgia (5-2)
21. Tennessee (4-2)
22. Texas (5-2)
23. Cincinnati (6-1)
24. Texas Tech (6-1)
25. Michigan (5-2)