Blue Preview: Storyline, odds, who to watch for UK football vs. Eastern Kentucky

Mark Story
·2 min read

Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky

When: 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9)

TV: None. Game broadcast is available only via internet streaming on ESPN Plus or SEC Network Plus.

Announcers: Play-by-play Peter Sousa; analysis Takeo Spikes

Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1

Satellite Radio: XM Channel 191, Sirius Channel 133, Internet Channel 962

Records: Kentucky 1-0; Eastern Kentucky 0-1

Series history: Kentucky leads 5-0.

Most-recent meeting: Stephen Johnson threw for 224 yards and a touchdown and ran for 48 yards and a score as Kentucky beat Eastern Kentucky 27-16 on Sept. 9, 2017, at Kroger Field.

Line: Due to EKU being an FCS opponent, there are no odds.

The storyline

Kentucky comes off an uneven showing in its 44-14 victory over Ball State in the season opener. It was a game when the Wildcats’ on-field performance did not always reflect their ultimate margin of victory. Against what will be a highly motivated, in-state opponent, Mark Stoops will try to coax more-consistent execution and fewer “aggravating” mistakes from the troops.

Barion Brown’s 99-yard kickoff return touchdown in Kentucky’s 44-14 win over Ball State last week made the sophomore from Nashville, Tenn., the first player in school history to return kickoffs for TDs in successive season openers. Brown joined Craig Yeast (three), Derek Abney (two) and Derrick Locke (two) as the only players in UK history with multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns.

The number to watch

UK’s number of offensive plays. For reasons good (two touchdowns not scored by the offense) and bad (4-of-9 third-down conversion rate), Kentucky ran only 51 plays vs. Ball State. To find an offensive rhythm and to make use of more of the Wildcats’ offensive weapons, Liam Coen’s unit needs more work Saturday.

The big threat

Parker McKinney. EKU’s super-senior quarterback will travel to Lexington needing 106 yards through the air to go over 10,000 passing yards for his college career. A 6-foot-3, 208-pound product of Coalfield, Tennessee, McKinney threw for 3,956 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2022 while leading the Colonels to a berth in the FCS playoffs. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 177 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the Colonels’ 66-13, season-opening loss at Cincinnati.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels quarterback Parker McKinney (18) has thrown for 9,895 yards in an EKU career that began in 2018.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels quarterback Parker McKinney (18) has thrown for 9,895 yards in an EKU career that began in 2018.

On the spot

Devin Leary. In his first game as Kentucky starting quarterback, the North Carolina State transfer showed some rust after missing the last six games of last season due to injury. Against Ball State, Leary had a rough first half (8-of-20 passing, an interception) and a promising second half (10-of-11, a touchdown throw) to finish 18-of-31 for 241 yards. This week against EKU, Kentucky needs the 6-1, 217-pound product of Sicklerville, New Jersey, to continue his momentum from last week’s second half.

After completing only eight of 20 passes in the first half last week against Ball State, Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary (13) went 10-of-11 in half two of the Wildcats’ 44-14 win.
After completing only eight of 20 passes in the first half last week against Ball State, Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary (13) went 10-of-11 in half two of the Wildcats’ 44-14 win.

The mood

Remains hopeful. Kentucky backers may not have gotten the offensive fireworks they hoped to see in the opener but did get a 30-point win. However, if the UK offense does not look infinitely better in week two against an FCS defense that surrendered 667 yards to Cincinnati, the mood within the BBN will darken quickly.

First Scouting Report: Against EKU, can UK football overcome a bevy of ex-Cats?

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Stock watch: Who’s rising and who’s falling for Kentucky football after the opener