When: 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 30

Where: Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, Ky.

TV: Big Blue Sports Network (Delayed)

Radio: Big Blue Sports Network

Notes: Kentucky has played Central Michigan four times, hosting the Chippewas in all four of those contest…The Cats are 4-0 lifetime against CMU, but the last two meetings have been decided by a total of 10 points…UK is 21-7-1 all-time versus current members of the Mid-American Conference…The Cats lost their last game to a MAC member, getting upset by Ohio in 2004…CMU returns 13 starters from 2005 and 33 lettermen overall…Chippewas coach Brian Kelly is 11-14 in two-plus years at CMU, 129-49-2 in his career.

SERIES: UK leads 4-0

Previous Four Meetings:

1992: @UK 21, CMU 14

1990: @UK 20, CMU 17

1988: @UK 18, CMU 7

1983: @UK 31, CMU 14

Aug. 31 BOSTON COLLEGE (L, 24-31)

Sept. 9 at Michigan (L, 17-41)

Sept. 16 AKRON (W, 24-21)

Sept. 23 at Eastern Michigan (W, 24-17, OT)

Sept. 30 at Kentucky

Oct. 7 at Toledo

Oct. 14 BALL STATE

Oct. 19 BOWLING GREEN

Nov. 4 at Temple

Nov. 10 W. MICHIGAN

Nov. 17 at N. Illinois

Nov. 24 at Buffalo

Name: Daniel Bazuin

Position: Defensive End

Class: Senior

Height: 6-3

Weight: 272

Hometown: McBain, Mich.

THE BACK STORY: Bazuin isn't a national name but his game is plenty impressive enough that he should be mentioned with the country's biggest and baddest defensive ends. The senior defensive end is a two-time All-Mid American Conference selection (2004 and 2005) and was named Second Team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News in 2003. He is the Central Michigan career leader in tackles for loss with 50.5 and sacks with 26.

WHY HE'S THE FOCUS: A year ago Bazuin lead the Division I-A ranks with 26.5 tackles for loss and was second behind Louisville's Elvis Dumervil with 16 sacks, a MAC record. Kentucky has struggled to slow down top-flight defensive ends at times and given the youth on the left side of the line – Andre' Woodson's blind side – you have to know where Bazuin is at all times.

HOW TO STOP HIM: Rarely can a rush end be stopped by just manning up on him and trying to lock him down with one guy so you can be sure UK will double team him and also make sure the running backs have an eye out for him on pass plays. The key isn't to completely stop a guy like Bazuin but to slow him enough that he gets frustrated and takes himself out of plays by being impatient.

The quarterback position has been a little unsettled for Central Michigan despite the fact freshman Dan LeFevour has taken most of the snaps. Sophomore Brian Brunner was the starter in the opener against Boston College but took a nasty hit on his first run of the season and was knocked out cold. LeFevour relieved and threw for 575 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions before Brunner returned to lead the Chippewas past Eastern Michigan last week. In that game Brunner passed for 214 yards and a touchdown to likely reclaim that starting job, although CMU coach Brian Kelly did not announce his starter this week.

The Chippewas have really struggled to get the running game going in their first three contests, averaging just 111 yards per game on the ground. Part of that is due to facing the tough defenses of Boston College and Michigan, but even star running back Ontario Sneed has not really been able to make something out of nothing. Through tfour games Sneed has been held to just 166 rushing yards and not gotten into the end zone once, but he does have 17 receptions out of the backfield. His listed backup, Troy Doane, does not have a single carry this year.

With Central Michigan struggling to run the football you would expect it to have much better numbers in the passing game but that really hasn't been the case either. LeFevour is still learning the position and as you saw when Michigan totally shut down Notre Dame's vaunted passing game, it was hard to do much in through the air in that game. Receivers Bryan Anderson and Damien Linson and have hauled in 41 catches between them but neither averages more than 11.7 yards per catch. Obed Cétoute has added seven receptions, Justin Gardner has two touchdowns and tight end Sam Williams has five catches.

The Chippewas' offensive line hasn't been opening a lot of holes in the running game but it has allowed just seven sacks and is a veteran group that should start playing better. The left side of the line features senior tackle Joe Staley and redshirt junior guard Mike Decker. Drew Mormino is another redshirt junior at center, as is Eric Tunney at right guard. The only player without a lot of experience is sophomore right tackle Andrew Hartline.

It's fairly obvious that the Chippewas' defensive front is anchored by end Daniel Bazuin, the school's all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss, but Bazuin does have some capable players around him as well. Junior tackle Steven Friend has actually put up the best numbers through four games with 21 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. Mike ogle has also been strong, adding 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack to go along with Bazuin's four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Thanks to a defensive line that draws a lot of attention the Central Michigan linebackers have had a great start to the season, especially the two that are more traditional linebackers than the 'drop' position that is more like a safety. Doug Kress (38 tackles) and Red Keith (42 tackles) are both big players that run to the football and are solid against the run. Drop linebacker Ike Brown has 12 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Central Michigan has been torched for 248 yards a game through the air but cornerback Josh Gordy helped push the Chippewas to their first win of the year against Akron by intercepting a pass and returning it 100 yards for a touchdown, earning him MAC Player of the Week honors. On the other side is senior Pacino Horne (33 tackles), while strong safety Curtis Cutts and free safety Calvin Hissong have combined for 44 tackles and an interception.

Should the game come down to field position and kicking, Central Michigan has to feel pretty good given its success in the kicking game so far. Kicker Rick Albreski has nailed all four of his five field goal attempts, although they have all been shorter than 30 yards. Punter Tony Mikulec is averaging 42.1 yards per punt and has put eight inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Eric Fraser is averaging 28 yards per kick return as well.