Kentucky Notices Its Poll Absence: 'We're Going To Make Them Respect Us'

Kentucky's football team is feeling like an only child from a single-parent home, they just want some love. Despite a 2-0 start, the Wildcats are not ranked within the Top 25 of either the AP poll or the Coaches Poll. The perceived slight by voters has Kentucky players feeling disrespected and motivated.

UK opened the season by pounding overmatched Louisiana-Monroe 45-10, then topped SEC East opponent Missouri by one score. Those around the program assumed an SEC win would vault the Wildcats into the rankings. “Everything is politics. If they don’t want to give us our respect now, we’re going to make them respect us later," said running back Kavosiey Smoke.

“This reminds me of the 2018 year,” Smoke added. “We didn’t get no respect at the beginning, then towards the end we started getting respect. We were ranked like No. 11 in the country. We don’t ever think about the rankings."

Smoke was referring to a 2018 team that had to wait to be voted into the Top 25 until after they started the season 4-0.

A successful run through their next three opponents would surely vault the Wildcats back into the rankings. Big Blue has a cupcake lined up for this weekend, Tennessee-Chattanooga, then faces meatier challenges in South Carolina and Florida.

“It ain’t about the rankings. It’s about the team. If we win, we’re going to get the ranking," said Smoke.

Kentucky was last ranked (23rd) within the Top 25 before last fall's season opener at Auburn. Upon losing, the Wildcats exited the rankings and have been seeking voter love ever since.