2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team

2026 Kentucky Wildcats football
2026 Kentucky Wildcats football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Head coach	Will Stein (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Joe Sloan (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jay Bateman (1st season)
Base defense	Multiple
Home stadium	Kroger Field
	Seasons ← 2025 2027 →

Last updated December 14, 2025

2026 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Alabama	0	–	0	0	–	0
Arkansas	0	–	0	0	–	0
Auburn	0	–	0	0	–	0
Florida	0	–	0	0	–	0
Georgia	0	–	0	0	–	0
Kentucky	0	–	0	0	–	0
LSU	0	–	0	0	–	0
Mississippi State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Missouri	0	–	0	0	–	0
Oklahoma	0	–	0	0	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	0	0	–	0
South Carolina	0	–	0	0	–	0
Tennessee	0	–	0	0	–	0
Texas	0	–	0	0	–	0
Texas A&M	0	–	0	0	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	0	0	–	0
Championship: December 5, 2026
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of December 14, 2025 Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team will represent the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats will be led by first-year head coach Will Stein. Kentucky plays home games at Kroger Field located in Lexington, Kentucky.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site
September 5	Youngstown State *	Kroger Field Lexington, KY
September 12	Alabama	Kroger Field Lexington, KY
September 19	Texas A&M	Kyle Field College Station, TX
September 26	South Alabama *	Kroger Field Lexington, KY
October 3	South Carolina	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC
October 10	LSU	Kroger Field Lexington, KY
October 17	Oklahoma	Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK
October 24	Vanderbilt	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry)
November 7	Tennessee	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
November 14	Florida	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (rivalry)
November 21	Missouri	Faurot Field Columbia, MO
November 28	Louisville *	Kroger Field Lexington, KY (Governor's Cup)
*Non-conference game Source: https://ukathletics.com/sports/football/schedule/season/2026/

Game summaries

vs Youngstown State

Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penguins	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: September 5
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	YSU	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Youngstown State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Crimson Tide	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: September 12
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AL	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

at Texas A&M

Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Texas A&M Aggies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0

at Kyle Field • College Station, TX

Date: September 19
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UK	TAM
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Texas A&M	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs South Alabama

South Alabama Jaguars (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: September 26
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SAU	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
South Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

at South Carolina

South Carolina Gamecocks (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina

Date: October 3
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UK	SC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
South Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs LSU

LSU Tigers (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: October 10
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	LSU	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
LSU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

at Oklahoma

Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Oklahoma Sooners (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0
Sooners	0	0	0	0	0

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma

Date: October 17
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UK	OK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Oklahoma	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Commodores (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Commodores	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: October 24
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	Van	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Vanderbilt	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

at Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Volunteers	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee

Date: September 5
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UK	UT
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs Florida

Florida Gators (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Gators	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: November 14
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UF	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Florida	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

at Missouri

Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Missouri Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

Date: November 21
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UK	Mizzou
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Missouri	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

vs Louisville

Louisville Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Date: November 28
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UL	UK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player
Louisville	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing	[
	Receiving

References

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v t e Kentucky Wildcats football
Venues	Stoll Field/McLean Stadium (1916–1972) Kroger Field (1973–present) E.J. Nutter Training Facility (practice)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Centre Florida Indiana Louisville: Governor's Cup Tennessee Transylvania: Battle On Broadway Vanderbilt
Culture & lore	The Wildcat Scratch Blue "On, On, U of K" "Kentucky Fight" Marching band Bluegrass Miracle 2003 Arkansas game Big Blue Nation
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks
Seasons	1881 1882–1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team

Contents

Schedule

Game summaries

vs Youngstown State

vs Alabama

at Texas A&M

vs South Alabama

at South Carolina

vs LSU

at Oklahoma

vs Vanderbilt

at Tennessee

vs Florida

at Missouri

vs Louisville

References