1. Lexington in September – Two years ago, Georgia beat Kentucky 16-6 on a frigid day at Commonwealth Stadium en route to a second consecutive national championship. The date was November 19, 2022, and the ‘feels like’ temperature was in the single digits. You can make the case that it was the coldest game the Georgia Bulldogs have ever played. If not, it is definitely on the very very very short list. Incidentally, it was very cold and windy the week before as well, when the Bulldogs won 45-19 at Mississippi State. For many years from the 1960s into the 20th century, Georgia and Kentucky played in October. Then schedule adjustments would move the game sometimes to November. But never September. So playing in Lexington this early in the season will be historically odd. Georgia and Kentucky have played every year since 1956, with every one of those games contested in October or November. In fact, the last time these two played in September was the 1942 season opener on September 19 in Louisville. The Bulldogs edged the Wildcats 7-6 and went on to win the Southeastern Conference Championship and consensus National Title.

2. A new basketball coach for Big Blue – Kentucky’s basketball fans are the most passionate – and demanding – in the game. First year head coach Mark Pope aims to restore the greatness for Big Blue, which won its most recent national title in 2012, the program’s eighth, second only to UCLA’s 11. Pope was a member of the Wildcats powerhouse 1996 national championship team, coached by Rick Pitino. That is one of the greatest teams ever assembled in college basketball history. Nine standouts on that star-studded roster went on to play in the NBA, including Pope, who played for the Pacers, Bucks, Knicks and Nuggets, as well as professionally overseas. He began his coaching career at the University of Georgia, on Mark Fox’s first staff in the 2009-2010 campaign.

3. From Prince Charles to the Mighty Munson – What a difference a year can make. In 1977, Kentucky fielded arguably its greatest team ever. The Wildcats went 10-1, losing only at Baylor. Coach Fran Curci’s ‘Cats beat North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee at home. Incredibly, the Wildcats won at Penn State, LSU, Florida and … Georgia. In what was a low point of Hall of Fame Coach Vince Dooley’s lone losing season, Kentucky beat the Bulldogs 33-0 Between the Hedges. In attendance, none other than England’s Prince Charles. It was agreed upon by the two teams that both head coaches would join the Prince for a halftime ceremony. No matter how the game was going. Well it wasn’t going well for the Bulldogs. Coach Dooley and team captain Jeff Lewis, and Kentucky’s Curci flanked the Prince. It was an awkward moment. As part of the ceremony, Coach Dooley and Lewis were presented with, among other gifts, a copy of Sir Thomas Carlyle’s masterpiece Sartor Resartus – signed by both the famed author and Prince Charles. Georgia finished that season at 5-6. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Bulldogs of 1978 rallied from a 16-0 deficit to defeat Kentucky 17-16 on a chilly night in Lexington. Rex Robinson hit the game winning field goal, and the Mighty Larry Munson was at his absolute best with his call of the final drive and Rex’s kick. The Wonderdogs of 1978 posted a 9-1-1 regular season and restored the Bulldogs winning ways. For longtime readers of Bulldawg Illustrated, you may have noticed that I make mention of Munson’s masterful performance that night on the Bluegrass. But Georgia playing Kentucky and not talking about Munson in ’78 would be like a visit to the Louvre in Paris, and not talking about the Mona Lisa.

4. Road Dawgs – It’s a business trip for Kirby Smart’s team when the Bulldogs hit the road. Under the watch of college football’s best coach, the Bulldogs have lost just four true road games – Ole Miss in 2016, Auburn in 2017, LSU in 2018, Alabama in 2020.

5. Smart and Stoops Shine – Kirby Smart’s accolades are incredible, leading his alma mater to the greatest heights in college football. Back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, seven straight top-7 finishes, and regular season records of 11-1 or 12-0 with SEC Championship Game trips in six of the last seven years. Stoops, at THE basketball school, has led Kentucky to eight straight bowl games, and highlight 10-3 seasons in 2018 and 2021. These two coaches have great respect for one another.