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Kentucky football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Kentucky Football starts the Will Stein era Saturday vs. Youngstown State. The 36-year-old coach inherits a top-10 transfer class and high expectations.
Background
Kentucky football is entering a new era under head coach Will Stein, who replaced Mark Stoops after 13 seasons. Stein, 36, is the youngest coach in the SEC and previously served as offensive coordinator at Oregon. The team has a top-10 transfer class and is projected to have its highest regular-season viewership ever, reflecting renewed fan interest.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2, 2026An ESPN simulation has Kentucky winning the national championship, though it's a once-in-a-lifetime scenario.
- Sep 3, 2026Alex Afari receives a TRO to play for Kentucky, becoming eligible after an appeal vs. NCAA.
- Sep 4, 2026UK Athletics announces a jersey patch partnership with UK Invests, starting with the Youngstown State game.
- Sep 5, 2026Kentucky opens the season against Youngstown State, with Sam Greene available and Jovantae Barnes out.
Who’s saying what
- Optimists
- A top-10 transfer class and record viewership projections signal momentum under Stein.
- Pessimists
- Worst-case scenarios see Kentucky winless in conference play and missing a bowl for the third straight year.
Still unverified
The ESPN simulation predicting a national championship is a single simulation, not a real projection.