The University of Kentucky football team is 1-0, has a shutout to its name and boasts a fan base whose thirst for winning knows no bounds.
What the Wildcats do not have is a foothold in the national polls.
Meanwhile, archrival Louisville planted its flag in both the coaches and media rankings on Tuesday.
If patience is a virtue, Big Blue Nation is stocking up on righteousness.
First, UK fans made the best of a bad situation Saturday by waiting out a lightning delay of more than two hours to watch the Wildcats win a weather-shortened season opener 31-0 over Southern Mississippi at Kroger Field.
Then, that win didn’t move the needle much with Week 1 pollsters, some of whom might have lost sight of the fact Kentucky’s game lasted a little more than two quarters while their rivals were posting scores in the 50s, 60s and 70s in their fully baked cupcake assignments.
Louisville took care of business impressively in its season opener at home, defeating Austin Peay 62-0.
In the Associated Press preseason poll voted on by the media, Louisville was just outside the Top 25 with 111 points received compared with Kentucky’s three points.
Tuesday’s poll moved Louisville all the way up to No. 22 with 188 points. Kentucky, meanwhile, lost points, dropping to two received.
The story was similar in the coaches’ poll. Louisville moved from outside the Top 25 in the preseason with 95 points to No. 24 after Week 1 with 101 points. Kentucky received 12 points in the preseason and 23 Tuesday.
Kentucky has beaten Louisville five times in a row.
Patience, everyone. Patience.
Kentucky’s upcoming schedule is a target-rich environment for upward mobility in the polls.
The Wildcats open Southeastern Conference play Saturday at home against South Carolina, then host No. 1 (AP) Georgia on Sept. 14. Later this month is a visit to No. 6 (AP) Ole Miss on Sept. 28.
Tuesday’s AP poll recognized eight SEC teams in the Top 25: No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 9 Missouri, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 18 LSU.
The Big Ten totaled six: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Penn State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 13 USC and No. 21 Iowa.
The ACC put five in the Top 25: No. 12 Miami, No. 22 Louisville, No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 24 North Carolina State and No. 25 Clemson.
The Big 12 also had five with No. 11 Utah, No. 16 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 19 Kansas and No. 20 Arizona.
Notre Dame, an independent football, moved up to No. 5.
Florida State, ranked No. 10 in the preseason, and Texas A&M, ranked No. 20, dropped out of the AP Top 25, allowing Louisville and Georgia Tech to jump in.
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