SATURDAY, OCT. 21 • 4 P.M. ET • SEC NETWORK vs. STARKVILLE, MS • DAVIS WADE STADIUM (61,337) KENTUCKY TRAVELS TO MISSISSIPPI ST. SEEKING BOWL ELIGIBILITY Having had a bye week to recharge the batteries, get healthy and formulate a plan for the KENTUCKY WILDCATS second half of the season, Kentucky begins the stretch run with a trip to Mississippi State. The Wildcats are 5-1 through six games for just the fifth time in the past 40 years, very much in the (5-1, 2-1 SEC) race for the SEC Eastern Division crown and can clinch bowl eligibility with a win. 9/2 at Southern Miss [CBSSN] W, 24-17 There are good memories from last season’s game against Mississippi State, as Austin 9/9 Eastern Kentucky [SECN] W, 27-16 MacGinnis drilled a game-winning 51-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock, snap- ping a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs in the process. 9/16 at South Carolina* [SECN] W, 23-13 The game will kick off at 4 p.m. ET at Davis Wade Stadium and air on the SEC Network. 9/23 #20/22 Florida* [SECN] L, 27-28 9/30 Eastern Michigan [SECN] W, 24-20 10/7 Missouri* [SECN] W, 40-34 GAME CENTER - #UKvsMSST 10/21 at Mississippi State* [SECN] 4 p.m. KENTUCKY WILDCATS MISS. STATE BULLDOGS 10/28 Tennessee* [TBA] TBA Record: 5-1 (2-1 SEC) Record: 4-2 (1-2 SEC) 11/4 Ole Miss* [TBA] TBA 11/11 at Vanderbilt* [TBA] TBA Ranking: AP - RV; Coaches - RV Ranking: AP - RV; Coaches - RV 11/18 at Georgia* [TBA] TBA Coach: Mark Stoops (Iowa, ‘89) Coach: Dan Mullen (Ursinus, ‘94) 11/25 Louisville [TBA] TBA Record: 24-31 (Fifth season) Record: 65-44 (9th season) at UK: 24-31 (Fifth season) at MSU: 65-44 (9th season) All times ET; *SEC game; Home games in bold vs. MSU: 1-3 vs. UK: 7-1 Last Game: W, 40-34, vs. Missouri (10/7) Last Game: W, 35-10, vs. BYU (10/14) Last Meeting: UK won 40-38 in Lexington MISS. STATE BULLDOGS Series: Tied 22-22 (10/22/16) (4-2, 1-2 SEC) QUICK NOTES 9/2 vs. Charleston Southern W, 49-0 • The Cats have won 12 of their past 16 Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award, 9/9 at Louisiana Tech LW 57-21 regular season games dating to last season, currently ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing 9/16 vs. LSU* W, 37-7 including road wins at No. 11 Louisville, (87.2 ypg). 9/23 at Georgia* L, 3-31 South Carolina, Missouri and Southern Miss. • Senior QB Stephen Johnson II completed 9/30 at Auburn* L, 10-49 • The Cats rank 10th nationally in rushing 22-of-36 passes for 298 yards and two 10/14 vs. BYU W, 35-10 defense, allowing just 97.2 yards per game. scores against Missouri. UK is now 12-5 10/21 vs. Kentucky* [SECN] 4 p.m. 10/28 at Texas A&M* TBA It is good for third in the SEC. over the last 17 games with Johnson as the 11/4 vs. UMass TBA • In allowing just 13 rushing yards to Eastern starter (10-5) or QB for the majority of the 11/11 vs. Alabama* TBA Michigan, the Cats posted the fewest rushing game in a relief role (2-0). Johnson was 11/18 at Arkansas* TBA yards allowed vs. a FBS team since Vanderbilt recently named on the top 20 list for the 11/23 vs. Ole Miss* TBA had -29 in 1996. Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. • The Cats rank second in the SEC and seventh • Senior wideout Garrett “Juice” Johnson has All times ET; *SEC game; Home games in bold nationally in turnover margin (+8). caught a pass in 17 consecutive games and • A big reason for the defensive success is due ranks fourth on the school’s all-time career to the DE/LB duo of Josh Allen and Denzil receiving yards list (1,883). Ware (aka Blitz Bros.). They comprise one • Return man Charles Walker is averaging of the SEC’s top pass rushing pairs, having 21.5 yards per punt return, which ranks ABOUT THE GAME totaled 178 total tackles, 29.0 tackles for among the nation’s elite return men. • Senior kicker Austin MacGinnis now has TV • SEC NETWORK loss, 19.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and a school-record 314 career points. He Play-by-Play Taylor Zarzour six forced fumbles the past two seasons. surpassed Lones Seiber (305 from 2006-09) Analyst Andre Ware Ware was named the SEC Defensive Lineman Reporter Olivia Harlan of the Week after recording two tackles, a in the win over Missouri by scoring a career- tackle for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and high tying 16 points, the second-most points RADIO • UK SPORTS NETWORK two fumble recoveries, including a scoop for a kicker in a single game at UK. Play-by-Play Tom Leach and score at Southern Miss. • MacGinnis has been named a semifinalist Analyst Jeff Piecoro • Allen leads the SEC in sacks (6.5) and is for the prestigious 2017 Campbell Award, Sideline Dick Gabriel eighth in tackles for loss (7.5). He ranks third which recognizes the nation’s best football nationally in sacks. scholar-athlete. SATELLITE RADIO • Cornerbacks Derrick Baity Jr. and Chris • With two field goals against Florida, Channel 191 - XM Channel 145 - Sirius Westry and safety Mike Edwards are also MacGinnis surpassed Joey Worley (57 from key components to the defense. They have 1984-87) to top the career list for field goals INTERNET RADIO • www.UKathletics.com combined for 77 career starts, having each made. He now has 63. MacGinnis is currently Live Audio - free; Live Stats started at least 19 of 20 games since the on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award. beginning of 2016 season (only Baity has not • MacGinnis’ 13 field goals on the season are TICKETS • UKathletics.com started all 20). the second-most in the SEC and ranks him • In his last six SEC games, sophomore RB seventh nationally in field goals per game HASHTAG • #UKvsMSST Benny Snell Jr. has 159 carries, 791 yards, • Senior LB Courtney Love was recently named 4.97 yards per carry and nine touchdowns. Snell, who is on the watch lists for the continued on page 3 2017 FOOTBALL GAME NOTES 1 UK Media Relations 859.608.5019 Susan Lax WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE - WEEK 8 - MISS. STATE GAME [email protected] Monday - 16 Tuesday - 17 Wednesday - 18 Thursday - 19 Friday - 20 Saturday - 21 Sunday - 22 Weekly news con- Interview request Interview request Coach Stoops post UK at Miss. State ference/luncheon. deadline 5:30 p.m., deadline 5:30 p.m., practice approx. No availability 4 p.m. ET No availability Lunch 11:15 a.m.; offensive players/ defensive players/ 5:30 p.m. ET SEC Network Stoops at Noon coaches coaches QUICK FACTS MEDIA INFORMATION Location: Lexington, Ky. Founded: 1865 Enrollment: 30,000 CREDENTIAL REQUESTS Nickname: Wildcats Media credentials for the 2017 University of Kentucky football home schedule should be Colors: Blue (PMS 286) and White requested online at www.sportssystems.com/kentucky. Conference: Southeastern (Eastern Division) Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director of the media entity. All of the Stadium: Kroger Field (61,000) credential requests from a media outlet should go on one credential form. If you have any ques- President: Dr. Eli Capilouto tions, please contact Evan Crane at 859-257-3838. Athletics Director: Mitch Barnhart Credentials for away games should be requested through the home team media relations Faculty Representative: Joseph L. Fink III director. COACHING STAFF UK WEBSITE -- UKATHLETICS.COM Assistant Coaches: Visit the official University of Kentucky Athletics web site at UKathletics.com. The official Steve Clinkscale, defensive backs Southeastern Conference web site is secsports.com. Eddie Gran, assistant head coach offense/ running backs Darin Hinshaw, co-offensive coordinator, UK MEDIA CONFERENCE QBs Every Monday - excluding bye weeks - head coach Mark Stoops will host a news conference/ Dean Hood, special teams coordinator, outside luncheon in the Kroger Field Media Room inside Gate 1. Lunch will be served at 11:15 a.m. in the linebackers recruiting room by Gate 14 with Coach Stoops talking at Noon in the media room. Matt House, defensive coordinator/inside line backers UK NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO Derrick LeBlanc, defensive line The Mark Stoops news conferences held on Mondays during the season will be available to Vince Marrow, tight ends, recruiting coord. the media for video download through XOS Video. E-mail Susan Lax for access information. John Schlarman, offensive line Lamar Thomas, wide receivers SEC HEAD COACHES’ TELECONFERENCE The SEC head coaches’ teleconference is on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Coach Graduate Assistant Coaches: Mark Stoops’ time slot is 12:40 p.m. The call-in number is 877-381-5694. A passcode will be issued Michael Colosimo, offense each week by the SEC office. Evan McKissack, offense Chase Heuke, defense Thomas Wells, defense INTERVIEWS AT PRACTICE Interviews will be conducted at the Joe Craft Football Training Center or by telephone at the Quality Control: conclusion of each practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tommy Mangino, quality control Louie Matsakis, quality control COLLEGEPRESSBOX.COM Dillon Sanders, quality control Collegepressbox.com is the official media website for Division I football. Access and download weekly game notes, quotes, statistics, media guides, headshots, logos and more for each confer- FOOTBALL MEDIA RELATIONS STAFF ence and its member schools.