Kentucky Wildcats
SEC
0-0 (0-0 conf)
SP+ #66
Ratings
2025 final
- SP+
- 1.8 (#66)
- SP+ Offense
- 25.5
- SP+ Defense
- 23.7
- SRS
- 2.9
- FPI
- 5.1
- Elo
- 1465
- Talent
- 763
- Recruiting
- —
2026 Outlook
Projected wins
4.0p10 3.0 — p90 6.0
| Round | Prob | |
|---|---|---|
| Win conference | 0.0% | |
| Make CFP | 0.0% | |
| Quarterfinal | 0.0% | |
| Semifinal | 0.0% | |
| Natl. final | 0.0% | |
| Natl. champ | 0.0% |
Schedule
proj record 4.3–7.7
Schedule
11th
toughest of 136
Offenses faced
17th
toughest of 136
Defenses faced
12th
toughest of 136
Strength of schedule — how tough this team's opponents are, ranked 1 (hardest) to 136 (easiest) · by 2025 SP+ · 1 FCS game.
| Wk | Opponent | SP+ | Score | Proj | Win% | Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsYoungstown State | FCS | 45-4* | +40.9 | 99% | — |
| 2 | vsAlabama | +14.8 | 18-30 | -11.6 | 21% | — |
| 3 | @Texas A&M | +20.7 | 15-36 | -20.8 | 7% | — |
| 4 | vsSouth Alabama | -12.7 | 34-18 | +15.9 | 87% | — |
| 5 | @South Carolina | +5.9 | 19-29 | -10.1 | 24% | — |
| 6 | vsLSU | +10.3 | 24-29 | -4.6 | 37% | — |
| 7 | @Oklahoma | +18.3 | 17-37 | -19.9 | 8% | — |
| 8 | vsVanderbilt | +20.3 | 14-30 | -15.7 | 14% | — |
| 10 | @Tennessee | +15 | 16-34 | -18.6 | 10% | — |
| 11 | vsFlorida | +3.5 | 25-26 | -1.6 | 46% | — |
| 12 | @Missouri | +14.4 | 19-28 | -8.7 | 27% | — |
| 13 | vsLouisville | +12.4 | 25-27 | -2.2 | 45% | — |
* FBS-vs-FCS estimate from the SP+ gap — no per-game model for FCS opponents.
Quarterbacks · 5
2026 · 73
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 1st | Kenny Minchey← Notre Dame | SO | 6'2" | 204 | ★★★★ |
| QB | 2nd | Zach Calzada | SR | 6'4" | 230 | — |
| QB | 3rd | JacQai Long← Marshall | FR | 6'2" | 200 | ★★★ |
| QB | 4th | Brennen Ward | FR | 6'4" | 222 | ★★★ |
| QB | — | Beau Allen | SR | 6'2" | 211 | ★★★ |
Running Backs · 4
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | 1st | Jason Patterson | FR | 5'10" | 209 | ★★★ |
| RB | 2nd | CJ Baxter← Texas | SO | 6'1" | 227 | ★★★ |
| RB | 3rd | Jovantae Barnes← Oklahoma | SR | 6'0" | 211 | ★★★ |
| RB | 4th | Tovani Mizell | FR | 6'0" | 217 | ★★★ |
Wide Receivers · 9
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 1st | Ja'Mori Maclin | SR | 5'11" | 191 | — |
| WR | 2nd | Xavier Daisy← UAB | SO | 6'3" | 210 | ★★★ |
| WR | 3rd | DJ Miller | FR | 6'3" | 204 | ★★★ |
| WR | 4th | Fred Farrier II | SR | 6'1" | 188 | ★★★ |
| WR | 5th | J.J. Hester | SR | 6'5" | 203 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 6th | Nic Anderson← LSU | JR | 6'4" | 208 | ★★★ |
| WR | — | Ja'Kayden Ferguson← Arkansas | FR | 6'2" | 182 | ★★★ |
| WR | — | Brock Coffman← Louisville | FR | 6'0" | 180 | ★★★ |
| WR | — | Shane Carr← Southern Utah | — | — | — | ★★★ |
Tight Ends · 3
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE | 1st | Willie Rodriguez | SO | 6'4" | 252 | — |
| TE | 2nd | Josh Kattus | SR | 6'4" | 247 | — |
| TE | 3rd | Henry Boyer | JR | 6'6" | 265 | ★★★ |
Offensive Line · 4
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OL | — | Joshua Braun | SR | 6'6" | 342 | ★★★★ |
| OT | — | Lance Heard← Tennessee | JR | 6'6" | 330 | ★★★★ |
| OT | — | Mark Robinson← UTEP | SO | 6'5" | 320 | ★★★ |
| OT | — | Olaus Alinen← Alabama | SO | 6'6" | 322 | ★★★ |
Defensive Line · 14
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 1st | Lorenzo Cowan | FR | 6'3" | 247 | — |
| DL | 1st | Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace | JR | 6'4" | 255 | — |
| DL | 2nd | Kahlil Saunders | SR | 6'5" | 293 | — |
| DL | 3rd | Tavion Gadson | SO | 6'5" | 298 | — |
| DL | 4th | Dominic Wiseman← South Alabama | JR | 6'2" | 300 | ★★★ |
| DL | 5th | Ahmad Breaux← LSU | SO | 6'3" | 278 | ★★★ |
| DL | 6th | Jamarrion Harkless← Purdue | SO | 6'3" | 345 | ★★★ |
| DL | 7th | Cedric Works | FR | 6'5" | 254 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 8th | David Gusta | SR | 6'3" | 317 | — |
| DL | 9th | Jaden Williams | JR | 6'4" | 295 | — |
| DL | 10th | Josaih Hayes | SR | 6'3" | 322 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 11th | Kalen Edwards | FR | 6'4" | 328 | ★★★★ |
| EDGE | 1st | Tyler Thomas← South Alabama | SO | 6'5" | 259 | ★★★ |
| EDGE | — | Antonio O'Berry← Gardner-Webb | — | — | — | ★★★ |
Linebackers · 10
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB | 1st | Daveren Rayner | SR | 6'2" | 217 | ★★★ |
| LB | 2nd | Alex Afari Jr. | SR | 6'2" | 227 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 3rd | Grant Godfrey | SO | 6'3" | 234 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 4th | Sam Greene | SO | 6'2" | 248 | ★★★ |
| LB | 5th | Kam Olds | SR | 6'4" | 252 | ★★★ |
| LB | 6th | Antwan Smith | SO | 6'3" | 215 | — |
| LB | 7th | Tavion Wallace← Arkansas | FR | 6'1" | 228 | ★★★ |
| LB | 8th | Quintavion Norman | FR | 6'3" | 224 | ★★★ |
| LB | 9th | Rushaune Vilane | SO | 6'2" | 237 | — |
| LB | 10th | Elijah Barnes← Texas | FR | 6'1" | 244 | ★★★★ |
Defensive Backs · 19
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | — | Mark Manfred III← Missouri | FR | 6'1" | 166 | ★★★ |
| CB | — | Hasaan Sykes← Western Carolina | — | — | — | ★★★ |
| DB | 1st | Ty Bryant | JR | 6'0" | 198 | — |
| DB | 2nd | Jonquis Hardaway | SR | 6'3" | 193 | ★★★★ |
| DB | 3rd | Jordan Lovett | SR | 6'2" | 208 | — |
| DB | 4th | Terhyon Nichols | SO | 5'11" | 198 | ★★★★ |
| DB | 5th | Grant Grayton | FR | 6'3" | 205 | ★★★ |
| DB | 6th | Jantzen Dunn | SR | 6'0" | 185 | ★★★★ |
| DB | 7th | Nasir Addison | JR | 6'0" | 204 | — |
| DB | 8th | Jaden Smith | FR | 6'3" | 208 | ★★★★ |
| DB | 9th | Kevis Thomas | JR | 6'0" | 181 | — |
| DB | 10th | Jackson Schulz | SR | 6'2" | 210 | — |
| DB | 11th | Martels Carter Jr. | FR | 6'0" | 200 | ★★★★ |
| DB | 12th | Demarcus Gardner | FR | 6'0" | 178 | — |
| DB | 13th | Andrew Purcell | FR | 5'10" | 193 | ★★★★ |
| S | 1st | Jordan Castell← Florida | JR | 6'2" | 213 | ★★★ |
| S | 2nd | Aaron Gates← Florida | SO | 6'0" | 198 | ★★★ |
| S | 3rd | Cyrus Reyes← Mississippi State | SO | 6'1" | 200 | ★★★ |
| S | 4th | Jesse Anderson← Pittsburgh | SO | 6'0" | 180 | ★★★ |
Special Teams · 5
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | — | Adam Zouagui← South Florida | JR | 5'11" | 188 | ★★★ |
| LS | 1st | Alex McLaughlin | SR | 5'10" | 228 | — |
| P | 1st | Aidan Laros | SR | 6'2" | 218 | — |
| PK | 1st | Jacob Kauwe | FR | 6'1" | 212 | ★★★ |
| PK | — | Zach Schreiner | SR | 6'0" | 181 | — |
Season History · last 12
1 AP top-10 · 8 postseason
| Season | Record | Conf | SP+ | AP | Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5-7 | 2-6 | #66 | — | — |
| 2024 | 4-8 | 1-7 | #45 | — | — |
| 2023 | 7-5 | 3-5 | #22 | #20 | 0-1 |
| 2022 | 7-5 | 3-5 | #25 | #7 | 0-1 |
| 2021 | 9-3 | 5-3 | #23 | #11 | 1-0 |
| 2020 | 4-6 | 4-6 | #55 | — | 1-0 |
| 2019 | 7-5 | 3-5 | #34 | — | 1-0 |
| 2018 | 9-3 | 5-3 | #25 | — | 1-0 |
| 2017 | 7-5 | 4-4 | #61 | — | 0-1 |
| 2016 | 7-5 | 4-4 | #78 | — | 0-1 |
| 2015 | 5-7 | 2-6 | #77 | — | — |
| 2014 | 5-7 | 2-6 | #51 | — | — |
Recruiting Classes
avg #29 · 64 blue-chip
■ 5★■ 4★■ 3★151 rated signees
| Class | Natl | Pts | 5★ | 4★ | 3★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #29 | 224 | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| 2024 | #24 | 237 | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 2023 | #32 | 212 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| 2022 | #14 | 240 | 0 | 11 | 6 |
| 2021 | #32 | 205 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 2020 | #23 | 230 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| 2019 | #34 | 203 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018 | #37 | 207 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| 2017 | #30 | 208 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | #34 | 204 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
247Sports composite · class rank vs all FBS
Roster Talent
2026
Portal in 29net +2Out 27
Portal avg stars (in / out)3.2 / 3.0
Notable Portal Moves
| ▲ | Lance Heard | OT | 4★ | ← Tennessee |
| ▲ | Coleton Price | IOL | 4★ | ← Baylor |
| ▲ | Tegra Tshabola | IOL | 4★ | ← Ohio State |
| ▲ | Kenny Minchey | QB | 4★ | ← Notre Dame |
| ▼ | Dante Dowdell | RB | 4★ | → Georgia |
| ▼ | Cutter Boley | QB | 3★ | → Arizona State |
| ▼ | Darrin Strey | OT | 3★ | → LSU |
| ▼ | Cameron Miller | WR | 3★ | → Ole Miss |
returning PPA · portal · talent composite · 2026
Injury Report · 0
No injuries reported.
Team News
6 items
- Top 5 Kentucky Wildcats player rankings in EA's College Football 27EA Sports College Football 27 is close to release, and they have released the top five rated Kentucky Wildcats players.UK2d
- Kentucky gets commitment from in-state 4-star WRKentucky kept a potentially big-time star in the Bluegrass State, with a 4-star wideout committing to play for the Wildcats in 2027. The post Kentucky gets commitment from in-state 4-star WR appeared first on Saturday Down South.UK2d
- 4-star LB commits to Kentucky over Georgia, ClemsonA 4-star linebacker from Indianapolis has verbally committed to Kentucky over Georgia, Clemson and others. The post 4-star LB commits to Kentucky over Georgia, Clemson appeared first on Saturday Down South.UK4d
- Will Stein's Kentucky football going big-game hunting against SEC powersWill Stein's recruiting at levels for Kentucky not seen in years - or longer. He's got a message: Kentucky football "isn't a mom-and-pop shop."UK4d
- SEC-Big Ten war is real, and Kentucky's new AD may just shift the powerJ Batt was a 'game-changer' for Michigan State. Now, Kentucky's new AD may have the inside intel to change the power structure between SEC, Big Ten.UK8d
- 76 DAYS TO 2026 KICKOFF: Austin RamseyBracketCat counts down the 76th day until 2026 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State defensive tackle Austin Ramsey.