2022 Kentucky Wildcats football team explained
The 2022 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by tenth-year head coach Mark Stoops.
On August 2, 2024, the NCAA announced that the University of Kentucky has agreed to accept penalties for violations of impermissible benefits as 11 football players were paid for jobs which they did not perform in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Although the NCAA has not announced the full penalties, it has been indicated by the university that those penalties will include a 2–year probation and vacation of all games in which the ineligible players participated for those two seasons.[1]
Schedule
Kentucky and the SEC announced the 2022 football schedule on September 21, 2021.[2] [3]
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Miami (OH)
See also: 2022 Miami RedHawks football team.
| Statistics | Miami (OH) | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total yards | 290 | 353 |
| Rushing yards | 111 | 50 |
| Passing yards | 179 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:53 | 28:07 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Miami (OH) | Passing | | 20/28, 166 yards |
| Rushing | Tyre Shelton | 7 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 85 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | | 21/32, 303 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Kavosiey Smoke | 7 carries, 32 yards |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 136 yards | |
At No. 12 Florida
See also: 2022 Florida Gators football team.
| Statistics | Kentucky | Florida |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 12 |
| Total yards | 272 | 279 |
| Rushing yards | 70 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 143 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:24 | 26:36 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 13/24, 202 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Kavosiey Smoke | 14 carries, 80 yards |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida | Passing | | 14/35, 143 yards, 2 INT’s |
| Rushing | | 7 carries, 62 yards |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 50 yards | |
Youngstown State
See also: 2022 Youngstown State Penguins football team.
| Statistics | Youngstown St | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 9 | 26 |
| Total yards | 192 | 480 |
| Rushing yards | 58 | 103 |
| Passing yards | 134 | 377 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 21:50 | 38:10 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Youngstown St | Passing | Demeatric Crenshaw | 7/21, 120 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Jaleel McLaughlin | 10 carries, 36 yards |
| Receiving | Jaleel McLaughlin | 3 receptions, 60 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 27/35, 377 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s |
| Rushing | Kavosiey Smoke | 18 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Dane Key | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD | |
Northern Illinois
See also: 2022 Northern Illinois Huskies football team.
| Statistics | NIU | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 18 |
| Total yards | 327 | 406 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 103 |
| Passing yards | 199 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:17 | 33:43 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| NIU | Passing | | 13/25, 196 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Harrison Waylee | 18 carries, 63 yards |
| Receiving | Kacper Rutkiewicz | 1 reception, 63 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 18/26, 303 yards, 4 TD’s |
| Rushing | Kavosiey Smoke | 12 carries, 85 yards |
| Receiving | Tayvion Robinson | 7 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TD’s | |
At No. 14 Ole Miss
See also: 2022 Ole Miss Rebels football team.
| Statistics | Kentucky | Ole Miss |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 328 | 399 |
| Rushing yards | 108 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 213 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:53 | 23:07 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 18/24, 220 yards, 2 TD’s |
| Rushing | | 19 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 81 yards |
| Ole Miss | Passing | | 15/29, 213 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 14 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 100 yards | |
South Carolina
See also: 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
| Statistics | South Carolina | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 18 |
| Total yards | 356 | 299 |
| Rushing yards | 179 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 177 | 178 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:55 | 31:05 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| South Carolina | Passing | | 14/19, 177 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 22 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Kaiya Sheron | 15/27, 178 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 22 carries, 126 yards |
| Receiving | Chauncey Magwood | 2 receptions, 37 yards | |
No. 16 Mississippi State
See also: 2022 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.
| Statistics | Miss State | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 24 |
| Total yards | 225 | 478 |
| Rushing yards | 22 | 239 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 20:38 | 39:22 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Miss State | Passing | | 25/37, 203 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 2 carries, 16 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 60 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 17/23, 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 30 carries, 196 yards, 2 TD’s |
| Receiving | Barion Brown | 7 receptions, 62 yards | |
At No. 3 Tennessee
See also: 2022 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
| Statistics | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 19 |
| Total yards | 205 | 422 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 98 | 245 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 35:11 | 24:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 16/27, 98 yards, 3 INT’s |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 15 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Jordan Dingle | 4 receptions, 44 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | | 19/25, 245 yards, 3 TD’s |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 78 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD’s | |
At Missouri
See also: 2022 Missouri Tigers football team.
| Statistics | Kentucky | Missouri |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 12 |
| Total yards | 252 | 232 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 89 |
| Passing yards | 170 | 143 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:05 | 28:55 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 13/19, 170 yards, 3 TD’s |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 29 carries, 112 yards |
| Receiving | Barion Brown | 4 receptions, 54 yards |
| Missouri | Passing | | 18/26, 143 yards |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 65 yards |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 60 yards | |
Vanderbilt
See also: 2022 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
| Statistics | Vanderbilt | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 448 | 322 |
| Rushing yards | 264 | 213 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 109 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:15 | 26:45 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | | 12/23, 184 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 26 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 11/23, 109 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 18 carries, 162 yards, 2 TD’s |
| Receiving | Tayvion Robinson | 5 receptions, 49 yards | |
No. 1 Georgia
See also: 2022 Georgia Bulldogs football team.
| Statistics | Georgia | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Total yards | 363 | 295 |
| Rushing yards | 247 | 89 |
| Passing yards | 116 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:02 | 29:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia | Passing | | 13/19, 116 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 19 carries, 143 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Dominick Blaylock | 2 receptions, 38 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 20/31, 206 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 17 carries, 51 yards |
| Receiving | Barion Brown | 10 receptions, 145 yards, 1 TD | |
No. 25 Louisville
See also: 2022 Louisville Cardinals football team and Governor's Cup (Kentucky).
| Statistics | Louisville | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 309 | 346 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 158 |
| Passing yards | 145 | 188 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:15 | 32:45 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Louisville | Passing | Brock Domann | 14/21, 129 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 22 carries, 145 yards |
| Receiving | Tyler Hudson | 6 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 11/19, 188 yards, 2 TD’s |
| Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 24 carries, 120 yards |
| Receiving | Josh Kattus | 2 receptions, 76 yards | |
Vs. Iowa
See also: 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and 2022 Music City Bowl.
| Statistics | Iowa | Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 10 |
| Total yards | 206 | 185 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 68 |
| Passing yards | 139 | 117 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 25:43 | 34:17 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Iowa | Passing | Joe Labas | 14/24, 139 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Jaziun Patterson | 4 carries, 23 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Destin Wade | 16/30, 98 yards, 2 INT’s |
| Rushing | JuTahn McClain | 10 carries, 40 yards |
| Receiving | Dane Key | 6 receptions, 47 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Wright . Meghan Durham . 2024-08-02 . Violations occurred in Kentucky football, swimming programs . 2024-08-02 . NCAA.org . en.
- News: Jon Hale. Return of Governor's Cup rivalry to Lexington highlights Kentucky football 2022 schedule. The Courier-Journal. September 21, 2021. December 7, 2021.
- News: Alex Walker. Kentucky football announces 2022 schedule. WKYT-TV. September 21, 2021. December 7, 2021.
