Honoring Tim Couch and more Kentucky-Georgia football game day notes

To celebrate his induction to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in December, former Kentucky football quarterback Tim Couch will be saluted during the UK-Georgia game on Saturday might.

As part of the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, Couch will be recognized between the first and second quarters.

“Tim Couch wasn’t just a great player at Kentucky; he was a game-changer who shattered records and redefined what was possible in the SEC,” NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said. “Helping launch the ‘Air Raid’ offense at Kentucky, Couch left an indelible mark, setting seven NCAA records and leading the Wildcats to several historic wins. We are thrilled for the opportunity to honor him at Kroger Field as a member of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.”

Couch will accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at UK. His induction in Las Vegas will take place on Dec. 10, 2024.

The 2024 class includes Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), the late Paul Cameron (UCLA), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Deon Figures (Colorado), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Randy Moss (Marshall), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Alex Smith (Utah), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), Chris Ward (Ohio State), Danny Woodhead (Chadron State [NE]), and coaches Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati, Michigan State); Danny Hale (West Chester [PA], Bloomsburg [PA]); and Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio).

A Kentucky high school football legend for Leslie County, Couch was a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year who led the Wildcats to the Outback Bowl in 1998. He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting. He was also the No. 1 overall selection in the 1999 NFL draft.

He is the sixth Kentucky player to enter the Hall, joining Bob Gain (1947-50), Babe Parilli (1949-51), Steve Meilinger (1951-53), Lou Michaels (1955-57), and Art Still (1974-77). Hall of Fame coaches who headed the Kentucky program include Paul “Bear” Bryant and Jerry Claiborne.

Saturday SEC football schedule

Here’s the television schedule for Saturday’s slate of SEC football games:

Kentucky-Georgia notes

Some random notes on the Cats vs. Dawgs:

▪ Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath will be the broadcast crew for Saturday’s game on ABC. The broadcast starts at 7:30, but kickoff is scheduled for 7:44. That same crew did the UK-South Carolina game last Saturday.

▪ Georgia won last year’s meeting 51-13 in Athens. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs led 34-7 at halftime in handing Mark Stoops’ Wildcats UK’s first loss of the season.

▪ Georgia quarterback Carson Beck completed 28 of 35 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns and was intercepted by UK’s Maxwell Hairston. Beck is back this year, of course.

▪ Current UK quarterback Brock Vandagriff also played for the Bulldogs that day. Before transferring to Kentucky, Vandagriff was 5-of-7 for 46 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the football twice for 27 yards, including a 16-yard run.

▪ Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring was 3-of-3 on field goals against Kentucky last season. Through two games, the sophomore is 4-of-4 on field goals this season. He made a 55-yard field goal in Georgia’s 34-6 win over Clemson on opening weekend.

▪ Kentucky’s Dane Key caught three passes for 65 yards in last season’s Georgia game. Tight end Josh Kattus caught two passes for 11 yards, including a touchdown. Barion Brown caught one pass for 7 yards.

▪ Then UK quarterback Devin Leary was 10-of-26 passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Besides Kattus, Leary also hit Ray Davis for a score. Leary is currently on the practice squad for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

▪ Georgia running back Trevor Etienne is a transfer from Florida. Last season as a Gator, Etienne rushed for 29 yards on 11 carries in Florida’s 33-14 loss to Kentucky at Kroger Field. In 2022, Etienne rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in Florida’s 26-16 loss to Kentucky in Gainesville.

▪ Georgia sophomore receiver Landon Humphreys is a transfer from Vanderbilt. He caught three passes for 33 yards in Vandy’s 45-28 loss to Kentucky last season in Nashville.

Kentucky’s record against No. 1 teams

Georgia is currently ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25.

Since 1950, Kentucky is 3-17 against No. 1-ranked teams. UK’s last win over the AP’s top-ranked team was 43-37 over LSU in overtime on Oct. 13, 2007.

Mark Stoops is 0-7 vs. No. 1-ranked teams. HIs last three losses to No. 1s were to the team he plays Saturday night.

Here’s the list:

My UK-Georgia prediction

I expect Kentucky to give a better showing than it did in last Saturday’s 31-6 loss to South Carolina, but that’s a low bar. And Georgia is a 24-point favorite.

My prediction: Georgia 35, Kentucky 14.

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