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Kentucky football stats, 2026

7–1 (5–1 SEC). 2026 season, games through Oct 24, 2026.

SP+ rating10.632nd of 138
SP+ offense33.327th of 138
SP+ defense22.338th of 138
PRIME11.624th of 138
Elo163439th of 138

Kentucky football rankings: how good is Kentucky?

SP+, PRIME and Elo agree: Kentucky is an above-average team (32nd, 24th and 39th). Kentucky has 7 wins on 4.6 SP+ expected wins, so it's been lucky, and has played one of the hardest schedules so far (14th in PRIME). The AP poll has it No. 9, higher than SP+ does.

What is Kentucky good at, and what is it bad at?

Good at

  • Kentucky takes the ball away: 2.2 takeaways a game, 5th in FBS.
  • Kentucky stays on schedule: a 48.5% success rate, opponent-adjusted, 10th in FBS.
  • Kentucky takes care of the ball: 0.6 giveaways a game (1 interception and 4 lost fumbles), 15th in FBS.
  • Kentucky runs the ball well: 0.13 EPA per rush, opponent-adjusted, 22nd in FBS.

Bad at

  • Kentucky can't get off the field on 3rd down: opponents convert 56.4% of their 3rd downs, 138th of 138.
  • Kentucky stalls on 3rd down: a 31.3% conversion rate, 125th of 134.
  • Kentucky doesn't hit big plays: 9.8% of its plays are explosive (runs of 12+ yards, passes of 16+), 118th of 134.

Good at means top 25 in FBS; bad at means 91st or worse. Turnovers swing a lot from week to week.

Kentucky football schedule, 2026

Next: at Tennessee, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA on ESPN.

WeekDateOpponentResult or kickoff (ET), TV
1Sat, Sep 5vs. Youngstown StateW 45–13
2Sat, Sep 12vs. AlabamaL 17–45
3Sat, Sep 19at Texas A&MW 31–21
4Sat, Sep 26vs. South AlabamaW 45–21
5Sat, Oct 3at South CarolinaW 35–34
6Sat, Oct 10vs. LSUW 35–34
7Sat, Oct 17at OklahomaW 21–13
8Sat, Oct 24vs. VanderbiltW 34–17
10Sat, Nov 7at TennesseeTBA, ESPN
11Sat, Nov 14vs. FloridaTBA
12Sat, Nov 21at MissouriTBA
13Sat, Nov 28vs. LouisvilleTBA

Kickoff times are Eastern. TV from CollegeFootballData.com; networks are set a week or two ahead.

Kentucky's 2026 record: the wins and losses

Record7–1
Strength of record+3.71st of 138
Schedule so far+3.814th of 138
Average margin+8.1
In wins+13.3
In losses−28.0
Best win
vs. LSU (6–2, SP+ 3rd, AP No. 15), 35–34, Week 6
Worst loss
vs. Alabama (6–2, SP+ 7th, AP No. 10), 17–45, Week 2
Biggest win
vs. Youngstown State (FCS), 45–13, Week 1
Closest win
at South Carolina (4–3, SP+ 28th), 35–34, Week 5

Wins (7)

  1. vs. LSU 6–2, SP+ 3rd, AP No. 15 35–34
  2. at South Carolina 4–3, SP+ 28th 35–34
  3. at Oklahoma 4–3, SP+ 33rd 21–13
  4. at Texas A&M 4–4, SP+ 34th 31–21
  5. vs. Vanderbilt 3–5, SP+ 77th 34–17
  6. vs. South Alabama 4–3, SP+ 115th 45–21
  7. vs. Youngstown State FCS 45–13

Losses (1)

  1. vs. Alabama 6–2, SP+ 7th, AP No. 10 17–45
Record
Against the AP Top 251–1
Against the SP+ top 251–1
Against the SP+ top 504–1
Against Power 4 teams and Notre Dame5–1
Against teams with winning records4–1
In one-score games (8 points or fewer)3–0
At home4–1
Away3–0
Against FCS teams1–0

Opponents are judged by where they stand now: their record, their SP+ rank out of 138 and the latest AP poll. Wins and losses are listed best opponent first. Strength of record and schedule are PRIME's, on its points scale, where higher is better.

How many championships has Kentucky won?

Kentucky claims 1 national championship: 1950.

Kentucky has won 2 conference championships, most recently the SEC in 1976.

SEC
2: 1950, 1976

Through the 2025 season. National titles are the ones the school claims; conference titles include shared ones. From each program's records as collected on Wikipedia.

Kentucky offense: stats and national ranks

StatValueRank
Points per game32.943rd
Yards per play5.14125th
Success rate42.6%80th
Explosive play rate9.8%118th
Yards per carry4.49114th
Yards per pass attempt6.04122nd
Sack rate allowed6.2%87th
3rd down conversion31.3%125th

Kentucky defense: stats and national ranks

StatValueRank
Points allowed24.875th
Yards per play allowed6.1487th
Success rate allowed49.2%130th
Explosive plays allowed11.6%80th
Yards per carry allowed4.8071st
Yards per attempt allowed7.8886th
Sack rate7.8%32nd
3rd downs allowed56.4%138th

How good is Kentucky's offensive line?

Big Uglies, our offensive line rating, has Kentucky at 55.1, 31st of 138 (50 is average). It's 17th in adjusted line yards per carry (3.13), gets stuffed on 16.7% of runs (55th fewest) and converts 75.0% of short-yardage runs (54th).

StatValueRank
Big Uglies: offensive line55.131st
Line yards per carry (adjusted)3.1317th
Stuff rate (runs stopped at or behind the line)16.7%55th
Power success (short yardage)75.0%54th
Sack rate allowed6.2%87th
Open-field yards per carry (adjusted)1.2240th

How good is Kentucky's defensive line?

Big Uglies has Kentucky's defensive front at 52.5, 49th of 138. It gives up 2.91 adjusted line yards per carry (55th), stuffs 19.4% of runs (62nd) and gets a sack on 7.8% of dropbacks (32nd).

StatValueRank
Big Uglies: defensive front52.549th
Line yards allowed per carry (adjusted)2.9155th
Stuff rate (defense)19.4%62nd
Power success allowed68.8%57th
Sack rate7.8%32nd
Front-seven havoc9.7%66th

Are Kentucky's backs actually good, or is it all the offensive line?

Kentucky's line is 17th of 138 in adjusted line yards per carry (3.13), the part of each run it earns. Its backs are 40th in adjusted open-field yards (1.22), the part they earn past 10 yards. Both: the line opens holes and the backs finish runs.

Kentucky football players: the stat leaders

Ahmad Breaux (DT), Antwan Smith (LB), Brian Robinson (DL), CJ Baxter Jr. (RB), Cedric Works (LB), DJ Miller (WR), Devin Smith (LB), Grant Godfrey (LB), Henry Boyer (TE), Jaden Williams (DL), Jamarrion Harkless (DL), Jason Patterson (RB), Jordan Castell (DB), Jovantae Barnes (RB), Kenny Darby (WR), Kenny Minchey (QB), Mi'Quise Grace (DL), Mikkel Skinner (TE), Nic Anderson (WR), Sam Greene (LB), Tavion Gadson (DL), Ty Bryant (DB), Willie Rodriguez (TE).

Kentucky football results, 2026

WeekOpponentResult
1vs. Youngstown StateW 45–13
2vs. AlabamaL 17–45
3at Texas A&MW 31–21
4vs. South AlabamaW 45–21
5at South CarolinaW 35–34
6vs. LSUW 35–34
7at OklahomaW 21–13
8vs. VanderbiltW 34–17

Ranks are out of 138 FBS teams. Stats from play-by-play; scoring counts FBS opponents only. Compare Kentucky with any team.

Questions about Kentucky

What is Kentucky's record?

Kentucky is 7–1, 5–1 in the SEC, with games through Oct 24, 2026.

Is Kentucky good this year?

Kentucky is 32nd of 138 in SP+, Bill Connelly's rating (above average), 24th in PRIME and 39th in Elo. The AP poll has them No. 9.

What is Kentucky's best win?

LSU, 35–34 in Week 6. LSU is 6–2 and 3rd in SP+.

What is Kentucky's 2026 football schedule?

Week 1: vs. Youngstown State (W 45–13); Week 2: vs. Alabama (L 17–45); Week 3: at Texas A&M (W 31–21); Week 4: vs. South Alabama (W 45–21); Week 5: at South Carolina (W 35–34); Week 6: vs. LSU (W 35–34); Week 7: at Oklahoma (W 21–13); Week 8: vs. Vanderbilt (W 34–17); Week 10: at Tennessee; Week 11: vs. Florida; Week 12: at Missouri; Week 13: vs. Louisville.

When does Kentucky play next, and what channel is it on?

At Tennessee, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA, at Neyland Stadium. It's on ESPN.

What was the score of Kentucky's last game?

Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 34–17 on Sat, Oct 24 at home.

Who is Kentucky's quarterback?

Kenny Minchey has thrown the most for Kentucky this season: 1,759 passing yards through Oct 24, 2026.

Where does Kentucky play its home games?

Kroger Field.

Where is Kentucky ranked?

No. 9 in the latest AP poll. 32nd of 138 in SP+, 24th in PRIME and 39th in Elo.

How many national championships has Kentucky won?

Kentucky claims 1 national championship: 1950.

How many conference championships has Kentucky won?

Kentucky has won 2 conference championships, most recently the SEC in 1976. Kentucky has 2 SEC titles.

How good is Kentucky?

SP+, PRIME and Elo agree: Kentucky is an above-average team (32nd, 24th and 39th). Kentucky has 7 wins on 4.6 SP+ expected wins, so it's been lucky, and has played one of the hardest schedules so far (14th in PRIME). The AP poll has it No. 9, higher than SP+ does.

What is Kentucky good at?

Kentucky takes the ball away: 2.2 takeaways a game, 5th in FBS. Kentucky stays on schedule: a 48.5% success rate, opponent-adjusted, 10th in FBS. Kentucky takes care of the ball: 0.6 giveaways a game (1 interception and 4 lost fumbles), 15th in FBS. Kentucky runs the ball well: 0.13 EPA per rush, opponent-adjusted, 22nd in FBS.

What is Kentucky bad at?

Kentucky can't get off the field on 3rd down: opponents convert 56.4% of their 3rd downs, 138th of 138. Kentucky stalls on 3rd down: a 31.3% conversion rate, 125th of 134. Kentucky doesn't hit big plays: 9.8% of its plays are explosive (runs of 12+ yards, passes of 16+), 118th of 134.

How much has Kentucky spent on its roster?

The NIL Standard's preseason estimate puts Kentucky's roster at $24.6 million, 26th of the 70 FBS rosters it values and 13th of 16 in the SEC, where the average is $30.3 million. That's $3.5 million per win so far (7 wins). Its 2026 transfer class is 32 players, 6 of them four- or five-stars, per 247Sports.

How good is Kentucky's offensive line?

Big Uglies, our offensive line rating, has Kentucky at 55.1, 31st of 138 (50 is average). It's 17th in adjusted line yards per carry (3.13), gets stuffed on 16.7% of runs (55th fewest) and converts 75.0% of short-yardage runs (54th).

How good is Kentucky's defensive line?

Big Uglies has Kentucky's defensive front at 52.5, 49th of 138. It gives up 2.91 adjusted line yards per carry (55th), stuffs 19.4% of runs (62nd) and gets a sack on 7.8% of dropbacks (32nd).

Are Kentucky's backs actually good, or is it all the offensive line?

Kentucky's line is 17th of 138 in adjusted line yards per carry (3.13), the part of each run it earns. Its backs are 40th in adjusted open-field yards (1.22), the part they earn past 10 yards. Both: the line opens holes and the backs finish runs.

Who is Kentucky's head coach?

Will Stein, in his first season.

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