Despite Offseason Optimism, Kentucky Football One of Only Two SEC Teams Left Without a Single Vote in First 2025 US LBM Coaches Poll, Raising Questions About National Perception Ahead of Crucial Season
The release of the first US LBM Coaches Poll for the 2025 college football season has stirred up plenty of conversation across the country, but nowhere is the reaction more sobering than in Lexington, where the Kentucky Wildcats find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Despite a summer of internal optimism, progress in Fall Camp, and a number of returning starters, Kentucky is one of just two Southeastern Conference programs — alongside SEC newcomer Vanderbilt — to receive zero votes in the initial preseason rankings. For a team that has consistently been competitive under head coach Mark Stoops and has built a strong reputation over the last decade as one of the more physical and disciplined programs in the league, the snub is both frustrating and telling.
Being excluded from the Coaches Poll altogether — not even a single vote — marks a notable shift in how the national media and fellow coaches are viewing the state of Kentucky Football in 2025. It’s not just that the Wildcats were left out of the top 25; it’s that they were entirely absent from consideration. No one in the panel of voting coaches placed Kentucky anywhere on their ballots, indicating that the program may be suffering from what many around the program believe is a perception problem rather than a talent issue.
Internally, the program has spent the offseason reinforcing the idea that 2025 could be a reset and rebound year. New offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan has been brought in to modernize the offense and inject creativity and tempo into a unit that struggled with consistency last season. Several returning starters on defense, a veteran quarterback under center, and a wave of promising young receivers have all fueled belief that Kentucky is poised to make noise in the SEC East. The message from Stoops and his staff has been clear: this is a team with something to prove, and the tools to do it.
But the Coaches Poll tells a different story. And while it doesn’t define a season before a single snap has been played, it does set a tone. That tone, in Kentucky’s case, is one of skepticism from outside the walls of the program. The Wildcats are not being viewed as a threat nationally or even as a dark horse in their own conference. For a team that has made postseason appearances in seven of the last eight seasons and defeated national powers like Florida, LSU, and Penn State in recent years, the absence of recognition stings.
Some of the skepticism may stem from the lingering effects of last season’s inconsistency. The Wildcats began the 2024 campaign with promise but struggled to find rhythm on offense in the second half of the year. Turnovers, red zone inefficiency, and a lack of explosive plays plagued the unit, and a few high-profile losses late in the season dampened much of the momentum the team had built earlier in the fall. As a result, national analysts and opposing coaches may now be approaching the program with more caution, waiting to see if Kentucky’s new direction on offense can produce results before buying in again.
Others might point to roster turnover and a recruiting class that, while solid, didn’t make as many national headlines as those of SEC rivals like Georgia, LSU, or Texas. Though Kentucky has had success in the transfer portal and in developing talent internally, there is a perception that the program doesn’t reload at the same rate as the conference’s traditional blue bloods. That perception, whether accurate or not, can weigh heavily on preseason polls, which often lean more on program brand and momentum than on-depth analysis.
Still, for Mark Stoops and his players, the lack of recognition may end up serving as the exact fuel they need. If there’s one trait that has defined the Stoops era in Lexington, it’s the ability to thrive as underdogs. Time and time again, his teams have used slights like these as motivation to punch above their weight class. In fact, some within the program are already embracing the “overlooked” label as a rallying cry. Being left out of the conversation may just be what this Kentucky team needs to develop the edge and identity that propels them to outperform expectations once again.
Kentucky’s players have yet to publicly react to the Coaches Poll, but insiders say that the message in the locker room has been unified: control what you can control. Coaches have reminded players that preseason polls don’t win games — performance on the field does. The schedule will offer plenty of chances for Kentucky to earn respect the hard way. With high-profile matchups against SEC opponents and a few challenging non-conference games, the Wildcats have a clear path to proving the doubters wrong.
The leadership within the team will play a huge role in determining how the Wildcats respond to this early-season disrespect. Veteran quarterback play will be essential, not only in managing games but in setting the tone emotionally. Offensive leaders must embrace the opportunity to prove critics wrong, especially in Hamdan’s new system, which aims to be faster, more efficient, and more dangerous vertically. Early camp reports have suggested that the offense is responding well to the new approach, with several wide receivers stepping up as potential breakout players and the offensive line regaining the physical edge that has long been its calling card.
On the defensive side, Kentucky appears to be quietly building a unit that could surprise people. Linebacker depth is considered a strength, and the secondary has drawn positive reviews during Fall Camp for its improved speed and aggressiveness. Defensive coordinator Brad White returns once again, and his ability to scheme against high-powered offenses has never been in question. If the defense holds up its end of the bargain, and the offense shows even modest improvement from last year’s production, Kentucky could quickly become one of the more balanced teams in the conference.
What makes this poll snub particularly interesting is the contrast between the national perception and the in-house belief. Kentucky’s staff is not approaching this season like a team in rebuild mode. On the contrary, there is an expectation internally that this is a squad capable of competing in the top half of the SEC and challenging for nine or more wins if things break right. The gap between how Kentucky views itself and how it’s viewed nationally may be wide, but that gap presents a clear and compelling opportunity for Stoops and company to make a statement.
There’s also the broader narrative to consider. The SEC is growing more competitive each year, especially with recent conference expansion bringing in programs like Texas and Oklahoma. It’s easy for a school like Kentucky to be overlooked in national conversations, especially when teams like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU dominate the headlines year-round. But that’s exactly why seasons like this one matter so much for the Wildcats. Success in 2025 could reestablish Kentucky as a legitimate player in the modern SEC — not just a spoiler, but a true contender.
And if that success comes, the absence of preseason votes will make the story even sweeter. In many ways, the path for Kentucky this season mirrors what the program has always had to do under Stoops: earn it. Nothing has ever been handed to Kentucky Football. Every win, every ranking, every bowl appearance has come through grind, toughness, and belief from within. This year will be no different.
For now, the US LBM Coaches Poll is just paper. It’s a snapshot of perception — one that Stoops and his staff will almost certainly use as motivation. And for Kentucky fans, it’s yet another reminder that the program still has something to prove, even after years of progress. But proving it is something Kentucky Football has done before. And with a hungry roster, renewed offensive vision, and a head coach who relishes being doubted, the Wildcats are preparing to let their play speak louder than any poll ever could.
