# Kentucky Wildcats

Southeastern · Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
Head coach: Will Stein · year one
Offense: Multiple Pro Style · Defense: Multiple

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 5-7 (2-6 in conference)
- National title odds: +40000 (#33 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 4.5 (over priced -134)
- Returning starter games: 43%
- Schedule difficulty: 16th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 30% | 20/67 | 4/15 |
| Offensive line | 73% | 33/45 | 6/8 |
| Defensive front | 42% | 33/79 | 9/22 |
| Secondary | 37% | 19/52 | 7/13 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Ty Bryant (DB), Hayes Johnson (OL), Lorenzo Cowan (OL), Malachi Wood (OL), Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace (DL)
- Key departures (with destination): Cutter Boley (QB) – ASU, Shiyazh Pete (OL), Jordan Lovett (DB), Seth McGowan (RB), Alex Afari Jr. (LB)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Kenny Minchey (QB) – ND, CJ Baxter (RB) – TEX, Xavier Daisy (WR) – UAB, Nic Anderson (WR) – LSU, JacQai Long (QB) – MRSH

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: DJ Miller, Hardley Gilmore IV, Xavier Daisy
- WR-Z: Nic Anderson, Ja'Kayden Ferguson, Kenny Darby
- WR-F: Shane Carr, Denairius Gray, Prince Jean
- LT: Lance Heard, Mark Robinson, Jermiel Atkins
- LG: Olaus Alinen, Aba Selm, Jordan Knox
- C: Coleton Price, Hayes Johnson
- RG: Tegra Tshabola, Jay Clark
- RT: Malachi Wood, Max Anderson, Cameron Jones
- TE: Willie Rodriguez, Henry Boyer, Mikkel Skinner, Elijah Brown, Justin Kattus
- QB: Kenny Minchey, JacQai Long, Matt Ponatoski, Brennen Ward, Carson Cruver
- RB: CJ Baxter, Jovantae Barnes, Jason Patterson, Martels Carter Jr.

### Defense

- DE: Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace, Brian Robinson, Tyler Thomas
- NT: Jamarrion Harkless, Kalen Edwards, Dominic Wiseman
- DT: Tavion Gadson, Ahmad Breaux, Jaden Williams, Happy Smith
- JACK: Sam Greene, Lorenzo Cowan, CJ Works, Antonio O'Berry
- WLB: Bo Barnes, Antwan Smith, Quintavion Norman
- MLB: Grant Godfrey, Tavion Wallace, Devin Smith
- LCB: Hasaan Sykes, Grant Grayton, Demarcus Gardner
- SS: Ty Bryant, Cyrus Reyes, Andrew Purcell
- FS: Jordan Castell, Jesse Anderson III, Dyllon Williams
- RCB: Terhyon Nichols, Nasir Addison, Kevis Thomas
- NB: Aaron Gates, Jaden Smith

### Special Teams

- PT: Thomas O'Hara, Wilson Berry
- PK: Jacob Kauwe, Adam Zouagui
- KO: Jacob Kauwe, Adam Zouagui
- LS: Cole Marszalek, Spencer Radnoti
- H: Thomas O'Hara, Wilson Berry
- PR: Ty Bryant
- KR: Ja'Kayden Ferguson, Martels Carter Jr., Jason Patterson

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Youngstown State Penguins (FCS) | Home | SEC Network+ | UK -23.5 |
| 2 | Alabama | Home | ABC | – |
| 3 | Texas A&M | Away | ESPN Networks | – |
| 4 | South Alabama | Home | SEC Network | – |
| 5 | South Carolina | Away | – | – |
| 6 | LSU | Home | – | – |
| 7 | Oklahoma | Away | – | – |
| 8 | Vanderbilt | Home | – | – |
| 10 | Tennessee | Away | – | – |
| 11 | Florida | Home | – | – |
| 12 | Missouri | Away | – | – |
| 13 | Louisville | Home | – | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/kentucky
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.