2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1][2][3] Kentucky plays home games at Kroger Field located in Lexington, Kentucky.

ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Headcoach
OffensivecoordinatorJoe Sloan (1st season)
DefensivecoordinatorJay Bateman (1st season)
Quick facts Kentucky Wildcats football, Conference ...
2026 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Sloan (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorJay Bateman (1st season)
Home stadiumKroger Field
Seasons
← 2025
2027 →
Close
More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
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 June 24, 2026
Rankings from CFP Rankings
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Offseason

Staff changes

Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, head coach Mark Stoops was relieved of his duties after the Wildcats finished bowl-ineligible for the second consecutive year. Stoops concluded his tenure at Kentucky with an overall record of 82–80, leaving as the winningest head coach in the program's history.[4]

On December 1, 2025, Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart announced the hiring of Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as the program's next head coach.[5]

Following the staff transition, defensive line coach Anwar Stewart was the sole assistant retained from the previous regime. Head coach Will Stein's new appointments included offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. The reconstructed coaching staff was notably characterized by its youth, with a majority of the new personnel under the age of 40.[6]

More information Offense, Defense ...
Positions key
OffenseDefenseSpecial teams
  1. [a]
    Includes nose tackle (NT)
  2. [b]
    Includes middle linebacker (MLB/MIKE), weakside linebacker (WILL), strongside linebacker (SAM), off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (OLB)
  3. [c]
    Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
  4. [d]
    Also known as a placekicker (PK)
  5. [e]
    Includes kickoff and punt returners
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NFL draft

See also: 2026 NFL draft

On December 17, 2025, guard Jalen Farmer declared for the 2026 NFL Draft as an underclassman with one year of eligibility remaining.[7]

The Wildcats had four players selected in the Draft. Guard Jalen Farmer was the first Wildcat off the board, taken in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts.[8] He was followed closely by senior center Jager Burton, who was selected 153rd overall by the Green Bay Packers.[9] In the fifth round, the Detroit Lions traded up 13 spots to draft wide receiver Kendrick Law with the 168th overall pick.[10] Running back Seth McGowan concluded the draft class for Kentucky, being reunited with teammate Jalen Farmer after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round.[11]

More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position NFL team
4 113 Jalen Farmer G Indianapolis Colts
5 153 Jager Burton C Green Bay Packers
5 168 Kendrick Law WR Detroit Lions
7 237 Seth McGowan RB Indianapolis Colts
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Departures

More information Name, Pos. ...
2026 Kentucky offseason departures
Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Jager BurtonC6'4"315SeniorLexington, KYDrafted: Round 5, Pick 153 (Green Bay Packers)
Jalen FarmerG6'5"312SeniorCovington, GADrafted: Round 4, Pick 113 (Indianapolis Colts)
Josh KattusTE6'4"261SeniorCincinnati, OHSigned as undrafted free agent (NFL)
Kendrick LawWR6'0"201SeniorShreveport, LADrafted: Round 5, Pick 168 (Detroit Lions)
Ja'Mori MaclinWR5'11"185GraduateKirkwood, MOSigned as undrafted free agent (NFL)
Seth McGowanRB6'0"220SeniorMesquite, TXDrafted: Round 7, Pick 237 (Indianapolis Colts)
Daveren RaynerLB6'2"215GraduateIndianapolis, INSigned as undrafted free agent (NFL)
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Incoming

Over the offseason, Kentucky added twenty-nine players from the transfer portal.[12] According to 247Sports, Kentucky had the No. 9 ranked transfer class in the country, as of January 23, 2026.[13]

More information Name, Pos. ...
Incoming transfers
NamePos.Height/weightClassHometownPrev. schoolSources
Hasaan SykesCB6'0", 185Jr-TrCharlotte, NCWestern Carolina
Mark Manfred IIICB6'1", 166Fr-TrSt. Louis, MOMissouri
Ahmad BreauxDL6'3", 278Jr-TrNew Orleans, LALSU
Dominic WisemanDL6'2", 300Sr-TrMobile, ALSouth Alabama
Jamarrion HarklessDL6'3", 345Jr-TrIndianapolis, INPurdue
Antonio O'BerryEDGE6'6", 240Gr-TrCharlotte, NCGardner-Webb
Tyler ThomasEDGE6'5", 259South Alabama
Coleton PriceIOL6'3", 318Sr-TrRound Rock, TXBaylor
Max AndersonIOL6'5", 311So-TrNashville, TNTennessee
Tegra TshabolaIOL6'6", 322Sr-TrWest Chester, OHOhio State
Adam ZouaguiK5'11", 188Sr-TrTampa, FLSouth Florida
Elijah BarnesLB6'1", 244Dallas, TXTexas
Tavion WallaceLB6'1", 239So-TrLittle Rock, ARArkansas
Lance HeardOT6'6", 330Sr-TrNashville, TNTennessee
Mark RobinsonOT6'5", 320Jr-TrEl Paso, TXUTEP
Olaus AlinenOT6'6", 322So-TrHelsinki FinlandAlabama
JacQai LongQB6'2", 205So-TrAtlanta, GAMarshall
Kenny MincheyQB6'2", 208Jr-TrHendersonville, TNNotre Dame
CJ BaxterRB6'1", 227Orlando, FLTexas
Jovantae BarnesRB6'0", 211Sr-TrLas Vegas, NVOklahoma
Aaron GatesS6'0", 198Jr-TrFort Lauderdale, FLFlorida
Cyrus ReyesS6'1", 200Jr-TrMiami, FLMississippi State
Jesse AndersonS6'0", 185Jr-TrPittsburgh, PAPittsburgh
Jordan CastellS6'2", 213Sr-TrWest Palm Beach, FLFlorida
Brock CoffmanWR6'0", 180Fr-TrLexington, KYLouisville
Ja'Kayden FergusonWR6'2", 187Houston, TXArkansas
Nic AndersonWR6'4", 208Sr-TrLSU
Shane CarrWR6'2", 190Sr-TrSouthern Utah
Xavier DaisyWR6'3", 210Jr-TrMobile, ALUAB
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2026 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 1 CJ Baxter Jr
RB 2 Jovantae Barnes Sr
QB 3 Kenny Minchey Jr
WR 4 Nic Anderson Sr
WR 5 Ja'Kayden Ferguson So
WR 6 Shane Carr Sr
WR 7 DJ Miller So
TE 8 Mikkel Skinner So
WR 10 Davis McCray Fr
WR 12 Brock Coffman Fr
WR 13 Denairius Gray Fr
QB 14 Brennen Ward So
QB 15 Carson Cruver Jr
QB 16 JacQai Long So
WR 17 Hardley Gilmore So
WR 18 Xavier Daisy Jr
WR 19 Kenny Darby Fr
RB 22 Delvecchio Alston Fr
RB 26 Jason Patterson So
RB 28 Tovani Mizell So
WR 33 Rico Crowder So
RB 35 James Dalrymple So
WR 37 Spencer Leadbetter Sr
WR 39 Saxton Howard So
TE 44 Justin Kattus So
OL 50 Max Anderson So
OL 53 Lance Heard Sr
OL 55 Aba Selm Fr
OL 57 Jordan Knox Jr
OL 61 Jason Ekperuoh  Fr
OL 62 Ben Myers Fr
OL 63 Kyle Mixon Fr
OL 66 Tino Merlo Fr
OL 67 Mark Robinson Fr
OL 68 Alexander DiMartino So
OL 70 Rob Fogler Jr
OL 71 Malachi Wood Jr
OL 72 Hayes Johnson So
OL 72 Coleton Price Jr
OL 73 Olaus Alinen So
OL 74 Jeremiah Atkins Jr.  Fr
OL 75 Hayes Johnson So
OL 77 Tegra Tshabola Sr
OL 78 Cameron Jones Jr
OL 79 Jay Clark  Fr
WR 80 Ashton Cozart Jr
TE 81 Willie Rodriguez So
TE 85 Elijah Brown Sr
TE 87 Henry Boyer Sr
QB -- Matt Ponatoski Fr
TE -- Lincoln Watkins Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 0 Elijah "Bo" Barnes Fr
OLB 2 Sam Greene Jr
DB 3 Aaron Gates  Jr
DB 4 Martels Carter Jr. So
DB 5 Jordan Castell Sr
DT 6 Ahmad Breaux Jr
DL 7 Jamarrion Harkless Jr
DE 8 Lorenzo Cowan So
EDGE 9 Antonio O'Berry Sr
DB 10 Dyllon Williams So
DB 11 Braxton Urquhart Sr
DB 12 Hasaan Sykes So
DB 13 Cyrus Reyes Jr
DB 14 Ty Bryant Sr
EDGE 15 Cedric Works So
DB 16 Jesse Anderson Jr
DB 18 Mark Manfred III So
DB 19 Kevis Thomas Sr
DB 20 Terhyon Nichols Jr
DB 21 Nasir Addison Sr
LB 22 Grant Godfrey Jr
EDGE 23 Brian Robinson
LB 24 Jaden Smith
LB 25 Tavion Wallace So
DB 26 Andrew Purcell Fr
DB 27 Isaiah McMillian Fr
DB 30 Grant Grayton So
LB 31 Quintavion Norman Fr
LB 32 Devin Smith Fr
DB 36 Andrew Weber Fr
LB 44 Antwan Smith Fr
LB 45 Kris Thompson Fr
LB 49 Wyatt Phyle Fr
OL 52 Cameron Miller Fr
OLB 53 Ben Reaves Fr
DL 55 Nic Smith Fr
DL 90 Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace Sr
DL 91 Jacob Kauwe So
DL 91 Jaden Williams Fr
DL 93 Kalen Edwards So
DL 94 Tavion Gadson Jr
DT 96 Dominic Wiseman Jr
DE 97 Tyler Thomas Fr
DE -- Ben Duncan Fr
LB -- Justyn Hartley Fr
DB -- Andre Clarke Jr. Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS 40 Cole Marszalek Sr
P 48 Tom O'Hara Fr
PK 88 Adam Zouagui Fr
P 93 Wilson Berry Sr
LS 97 Spencer Radnoti Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Support staff

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: March 31, 2026

Close

Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResult
September 51:00 p.m.Youngstown State*
SECN+
September 123:30 p.m.Alabama
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
ABC
September 193:30 p.m.at Texas A&M
ESPN/ESPN2
September 2612:45 p.m.South Alabama*
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECN
October 3at South Carolina
October 10LSU
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
October 17at Oklahoma
October 24Vanderbilt
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
November 7at Tennessee
November 14Florida
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
November 21at Missouri
November 28Louisville*
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Sources:[14][15]

Game summaries

vs Youngstown State (FCS)

See also: 2026 Youngstown State Penguins football team
Youngstown State Penguins (FCS) (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penguins (FCS) 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 5
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, YSU ...
StatisticsYSUUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Youngstown StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Alabama

See also: 2026 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Alabama Crimson Tide (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Crimson Tide 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 12
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, ALA ...
StatisticsALAUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AlabamaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Texas A&M

See also: 2026 Texas A&M Aggies football team
Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Texas A&M Aggies (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 000
Aggies 0 0 000
Close

at Kyle Field • College Station, TX

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, UK ...
StatisticsUKTAMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Texas A&MPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs South Alabama

See also: 2026 South Alabama Jaguars football team
South Alabama Jaguars (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 26
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, USA ...
StatisticsUSAUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South AlabamaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at South Carolina

See also: 2026 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at South Carolina Gamecocks (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 000
Gamecocks 0 0 000
Close

at Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, UK ...
StatisticsUKSC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
South CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs LSU

See also: 2026 LSU Tigers football team
LSU Tigers (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, LSU ...
StatisticsLSUUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Oklahoma

See also: 2026 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Oklahoma Sooners (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 000
Sooners 0 0 000
Close

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, UK ...
StatisticsUKOU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
OklahomaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Vanderbilt

See also: 2026 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
Vanderbilt Commodores (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Commodores 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, VAN ...
StatisticsVANUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VanderbiltPassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Tennessee

See also: 2026 Tennessee Volunteers football team
Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Tennessee Volunteers (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 000
Volunteers 0 0 000
Close

at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, UK ...
StatisticsUKTENN
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
TennesseePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Florida

See also: 2026 Florida Gators football team
Florida Gators (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Gators 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, FLA ...
StatisticsFLAUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FloridaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Missouri

See also: 2026 Missouri Tigers football team
Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) at Missouri Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000
Close

at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, UK ...
StatisticsUKMIZ
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MissouriPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Louisville

See also: 2026 Louisville Cardinals football team
Louisville Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 000
Wildcats 0 0 000
Close

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Close
More information Statistics, LOU ...
StatisticsLOUUK
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisvillePassing
Rushing
Receiving
KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

References

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