5-7 Season Record
CBS Sports ranks Kentucky's offensive line third in the country entering Will Stein's first season, trailing only Georgia and Ohio State. The portal-rebuilt unit adds Ohio State's Tegra Tshabola and Baylor center Coleton Price alongside returning right tackle Malachi Wood.
Kentucky alumni squad La Familia begins play in The Basketball Tournament Saturday against Louisville's The Ville, opening a best-of-three series in the revamped 16-team, $2 million winner-take-all event. Willie Cauley-Stein and Andrew Harrison headline the roster, with Jon Hood coaching.
Kentucky will host Appalachian State at Rupp Arena on December 5, 2026, marking the Mountaineers' first-ever trip to Rupp. App State went 19-13 last season and has ranked top-50 nationally in scoring defense six straight years.
Kentucky forward Milan Momcilovic ranks No. 2 among all college athletes in On3's NIL valuations at $6 million, tied for the highest figure in college basketball. The nation's top three-point shooter chose Lexington after withdrawing from the NBA Draft.
Freshman QB Matt Ponatoski has arrived in Lexington for Kentucky's preseason camp, though reports say he hasn't fully closed the door on the Cincinnati Reds, who took him in the 18th round of the MLB draft. All signs point to him playing both football and baseball for the Wildcats.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is criticizing former UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart's revised retirement package, which pays him over $3 million from private funds, arguing that money could instead go toward students, faculty and research.
Kentucky commit Ryan Hampton poured in 21 points with four threes to lead Nightrydas past PSA at Nike Peach Jam, where Mark Pope's staff is scouting targets. Top 2027 prospect Beckham Black, a priority Wildcats target, erupted for 37 points on 70 percent shooting.
Four-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski has enrolled at Kentucky after slipping to the Reds in the 18th round of the MLB Draft. The Elite 11 finalist joins a wide-open QB2 competition behind Kenny Minchey and plans to play for the Wildcats' baseball team as well.
Former Wildcat and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Willie Cauley-Stein says this summer's Basketball Tournament with La Familia will close out his playing career, citing the grind of staying in shape without an active roster spot. He plans to stay connected to the program afterward.
Four-star quarterback and Ohio Mr. Football Matt Ponatoski has reportedly enrolled at Kentucky ahead of training camp, turning down the Cincinnati Reds after they took him in the 18th round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The two-sport standout gives the Wildcats needed quarterback depth and a live arm for the baseball program.
Western Kentucky's Victory Vaka lost his scholarship following his mother's death, and a roster decision combined with NCAA rules has left him one semester from graduation with nowhere to play.
Colorado selects Kentucky infielder Tyler Bell with the No. 10 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, making him the second-highest draft selection in program history and leaving a significant gap in the Wildcats' infield.
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
