After all 14 SEC teams played non-conference games to open the 2021 season, Week 2 will feature the first conference matchup of the year: Missouri vs. Kentucky in Lexington.

These SEC East rivals both have high expectations this year, so this is a pivotal early-season matchup. It could help in determining the order of the standings by the time 2021 is over.

Kentucky won 5 straight meetings with Mizzou from 2015-19, before the Tigers notched a 20-10 win over the Wildcats in Columbia last season. Now, Kentucky is looking for revenge on its home field.

During an appearance on “SEC This Morning” on Tuesday, Wildcats coach Mark Stoops discussed the matchup and explained why it’s such a crucial contest, even this early in the season.

“It’s hard to argue the importance of this game, let’s face it,” Stoops said. “It’s an SEC East opponent, and all these games are so important. You all know that because you cover this league so much and you understand the parity that’s in here and the fight to keep on climbing the ladder.

“[Missouri head coach] Eli [Drinkwitz] does a great job, and they took care of us last year up there. You’re right, it was definitely a low point. I was very much not happy with myself and the way I had our team prepared. They were much prepared, they played better than us, they played with more energy, they played more physical, and that’s things we pride ourselves on. That’s something that I was not real pleased with, and that starts with me and I mean that. But we’ll get it corrected.

“It’s just like last year when we went up to play them they were talking about, ‘Oh, you’ve beat them X amount of years in a row,’ and all that and I said, ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Right? It doesn’t matter. It’s a new year. And it didn’t matter last year, they kicked our butts. So this is a new year. And I know all coaches feel that way. But it’s fair to say I was not very proud of the way we played up there and that starts with me. We’ll be better prepared this year.”

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Kentucky and Missouri each opened the season with a win. The Wildcats rolled to a 45-10 victory over UL Monroe, while the Tigers earned a 34-24 win against Central Michigan. But only one of these teams will be improving to 2-0.

Kentucky and Mizzou are set to kick off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.