5-7 Season Record
Kentucky deputy athletics director Marc Hill is leaving for an executive role at BYU after 27 years in Lexington, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. Hill had been Mitch Barnhart's second-in-command since 2019 and was once seen as a candidate to succeed him.
First-year Kentucky staffer Keegan Brown, previously with BYU, is overhauling how the program handles scouting and roster construction, and has signaled plans to build out football-style evaluation processes this season.
Mark Pope says Kentucky is aggressively pursuing options for its open 15th scholarship spot, with recent fifth-year eligibility injunctions widening the pool beyond international targets. Summer practice has wrapped with the spot unfilled heading toward Big Blue Madness.
Former Kentucky running back Seth McGowan, a seventh-round pick who ran for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, is pushing for the No. 2 job in Indianapolis and drawing praise from Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones.
Marshall transfer JacQai Long currently sits atop Kentucky's backup quarterback battle behind starter Kenny Minchey, though Cal Wither is earning praise from offensive coordinator Joe Sloan ahead of the opener against Youngstown State.
New Kentucky AD J Batt and head coach Will Stein handed out donuts to fans claiming tailgate spots at Kroger Field during the program's annual setup day, part of a push to strengthen ties with Big Blue Nation ahead of the season.
Ryan Hampton, Kentucky's only commitment in the 2027 class, is expected to make an announcement Saturday morning on Dallas' NBC5. Reports suggest he will remain in the 2027 class, with the news likely involving a change of high schools for his final season rather than a reclassification.
Kentucky offensive coordinator Joe Sloan says he will call plays from the box this fall, as he did at LSU, citing the calmer vantage point. Head coach Will Stein will stay involved in a collaborative play-calling process ahead of the Sept. 5 opener against Youngstown State.
Kentucky closed its summer practice slate with Mark Pope inviting fans to the final session, where Zoom Diallo emerged as the team's clear leader ahead of a roster loaded with new faces for 2026-27.
With Gilmore gone, Kentucky's receiver group now leans on returning sophomore DJ Miller, with Shane Carr, Nic Anderson and Kenny Darby competing for expanded roles.
Kentucky center Coleton Price earned a spot on the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list for the second year in a row, while left tackle Lance Heard made the Outland Trophy list. Price started 11 games last season with just one sack allowed, and Heard arrives from Tennessee as a 2025 Third-Team All-SEC pick.
Mark Stoops, who ran Kentucky's program for 13 seasons, is now a special assistant on Steve Sarkisian's Texas staff and was photographed in burnt orange this week. Will Stein takes over as the Wildcats' head coach for the upcoming season.
Kentucky has secured a commitment from 4-Star cornerback Andre Clarke (Richmond, VA) for the 2026 class. Ranked No. 213 nationally. Composite rating: 0.9222.
Kentucky has secured a commitment from 4-Star wide receiver Kenny Darby (Bossier City, LA) for the 2026 class. Ranked No. 229 nationally. Composite rating: 0.9184.
Kentucky has secured a commitment from 3-Star edge rusher Justyn Hartley (Hoover, AL) for the 2026 class. Ranked No. 907 nationally. Composite rating: 0.8733.
Alabama @ Kentucky
Kentucky @ Texas A&M
Kentucky @ South Carolina
LSU @ Kentucky
Kentucky @ Oklahoma
Vanderbilt @ Kentucky
