Kentucky has been one of the stronger teams in the SEC in recent years, often flying under the radar. By November, they typically have seven to eight wins and are gearing up for a solid bowl game. However, some of their past successes are about to be wiped from the record books due to program violations.
Kentucky Reaches a Settlement with the NCAA
On Friday, Kentucky and the NCAA settled infractions involving 11 football players who were paid for work they never did in 2021-2022.
The violations stem from these players being paid for work they didn’t perform at the University of Kentucky Hospital between Spring 2021 and March 2022. Eight of these players competed and received expenses while ineligible, according to On3.com.
ESPN reports that “Kentucky agreed to spend two years on probation, pay an undisclosed fine, and vacate records of any games in which ineligible football players competed.”
As a result, Kentucky will vacate 10 wins from the 2021 season, including their Citrus Bowl win over Iowa.
The 2021 10-win season was tied for the program’s best year in the 2000s, matching their 10-3 record in the 2018 campaign.
Kentucky must recover quickly from the two-year probation. The SEC is set to become much tougher this season with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference, and Georgia, the top team in college football, continuing to improve. Alabama remains competitive even without Nick Saban, Ole Miss looks strong this year, Missouri is on the rise, and Tennessee and LSU have the rosters to make a serious run.
The Wildcats can’t let this violation derail their program, or they risk falling behind in a highly competitive conference, wasting all the progress head coach Mark Stoops has made in recent years.
