Mississippi State football vs Kentucky Wildcats features two teams fighting for respect

The Mississippi State football team is fighting for respect on Saturday. Kentucky happens to be doing the same thing.

When the Mississippi State football team heads up to Lexington, Kentucky, they’re going to meet up with a pretty good team that is looking to gain some respect. On the football field, Kentucky has long been a laughing stock in the Southeastern Conference. They’ve been far from good for a very long time.

In the past 10 years, the Kentucky Wildcats football program has faced its share of struggles. The Wildcats have a grand total of four winning seasons from 2008 up to 2017. All four of those winning seasons had identical 7-6 records.

In recent years, Kentucky has been improving slowly but surely. Mark Stoops took over the job back in 2013 and won a grand total of 2 games in his first season. In 2014 and 2015, Kentucky fielded teams that went 5-7 in both years. In 2016 and 2017, Stoops brought Kentucky two 7-6 seasons, but neither of those 7-6 seasons had a bowl victory.

Kentucky is looking to continue to climb. So far, they’ve ended a losing streak to Florida that lasted over three decades. Now, the Wildcats want to continue to earn respect.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi State football program has reached a new level relative to its overall history. The Bulldogs have won at least 9 games in three of the last four seasons. Mississippi State has been winning at a high level thanks to Dan Mullen’s establishing efforts and development of the program.

In 2014, the Bulldogs ascended to No. 1 for the first time ever and finished the season with a 10-3 record. In 2015, Dak Prescott carried MSU to a 9-4 season and a Belk Bowl victory. The Bulldogs took a step back in 2016 thanks to an inept defense coached by Peter Sirmon. 2017 featured MSU returning to that established level of success with another 9-4 season and a Tax Slayer Bowl win.

Now, Joe Moorhead is ready to take the program to a championship. He’s been preaching about creating a “championship standard” all offseason and the Bulldogs are in the midst of the season right now.

It remains to be seen as to whether or not Moorhead can actually guide his team there.

Regardless, tomorrow evening’s game between the Mississippi State football team and the Kentucky Wildcats features two ambitious programs. Both of these teams want more than what they have currently. A win tomorrow would help either program advance toward their goals.