Kentucky hosts Ball State in 1st meeting since 2001, aiming for 8th opening win under Mark Stoops

Updated Aug. 31, 2023 6:40 p.m. ET

Associated Press

Ball State (0-0) at Kentucky (0-0), Saturday at 12 p.m. ET (SEC)

Line: Kentucky by 26 1/2, according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.

Series: Kentucky leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Ball State seeks a breakthrough win over an SEC team in the first of consecutive contests against SEC foes. Two-time defending national champion Georgia follows next week. Kentucky plays the first of three consecutive non-conference home games before its SEC opener at Vanderbilt on Sept. 23.

KEY MATCHUP

Kentucky’s offense vs. Ball State’s defense: The host Wildcats will debut 6,000-yard passer Devin Leary and 1,000-yard rusher Ray Davis and return coordinator Liam Coen after a one-year stint with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. A retooled offensive line also looks to rebound from last season's run and pass protection struggles. Kentucky faces a veteran Ball State defense that returns eight starters and 30 lettermen, including inside linebacker Clayton Coll (110 tackles, two sacks) and safety Jordan Riley (97, 12 pass breakups).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ball State fifth-year quarterback Layne Hatcher ranks fifth among active FBS passers with 10,080 yards and third with 84 touchdowns. The former Alabama redshirt previously played at Texas State and Arkansas State.

Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary transferred from North Carolina State following a season-ending shoulder injury last fall. That injury occurred following his selection Atlantic Coast Conference preseason player of the year. Leary totaled 62 touchdowns and 6,807 yards on 60% passing over four seasons at N.C. State and went 17-9 as a starter.

FACTS & FIGURES

Kentucky won the inaugural meeting 28-20 in 2001. ... Ball State is 0-11 against the SEC. ... League coaches picked the Cardinals to finish fifth among six teams in the MAC West Division in a preseason poll. ... Running back Marquez Cooper (1,326 yards, 13 TDs) transferred from Kent State after earning All-MAC first team honors last season with Cardinals’ 1,500-yard rusher Carson Steele. ... Kentucky is 7-3 in openers under coach Mark Stoops and 90-37-5 all time. ... Davis’ 1,042 yards rushing and five TDs last season at Vanderbilt included 129 with a score in a win at Kentucky. He rushed for 936 yards and a career-high eight TDs in 2019 at Temple.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll