2026 UK Football Schedule

[WildcatRick]

Here's the full schedule:

• Sept. 5: Youngstown State
• Sept. 12: Alabama
• Sept. 19: At Texas A&M
• Sept. 26: South Alabama
• Oct. 3: At South Carolina
• Oct. 10: LSU
• Oct. 17: At Oklahoma
• Oct. 24: Vanderbilt
• Oct. 31: BYE
• Nov. 7: At Tennessee
• Nov. 14: Florida
• Nov. 21: At Missouri
• Nov. 28: Louisville (Senior Day)

[Pobilly]

Gonna be a hard schedule no matter how you stack it. Bama game 2 and at AM game 3 will be rough for sure.

[Matt Dillon]

What a brutal schedule. Thanks for posting it, Rick.

[TrueblueCATfan]

That is brutal...especially for a new Coach

[Matt Dillon]

I think he'll be ok from a coaching standpoint. Whether or not he'll have the talent the first season or two is my main concern. There's an old saying 'it's not about the X's and O's but the Jimmys and Joes'.

[The-Hack]

Are we at USCe two times in a row?

That looks like a hard schedule. I suspect
it will rank Top 5 in the nation.

[I looked it up:

”Kentucky hosts a first-time opponent, South Alabama, on September 26 before traveling to South Carolina on October 3. It will be UK’s second consecutive visit to Columbia, necessitated by the new scheduling format. South Carolina, along with Tennessee and Florida, are UK’s annual opponents through 2029.”

[largebluej]

Are we at USCe two times in a row?

That looks like a hard schedule. I suspect
it will rank Top 5 in the nation.

[I looked it up:

”Kentucky hosts a first-time opponent, South Alabama, on September 26 before traveling to South Carolina on October 3. It will be UK’s second consecutive visit to Columbia, necessitated by the new scheduling format. South Carolina, along with Tennessee and Florida, are UK’s annual opponents through 2029.”

We get Florida at home 2 years in a row. I guess that offsets SCjr.

[Jaxcat]

Although I have visited 43 states, I have never set foot in the state of Oklahoma. I've already circled that date to check that state and stadium off my list. Attended the A&M game a few years ago at Kyle Field and had a wonderful time (although we lost). Their fans were awesome and the atmosphere was memorable. I would expect the Sooner fans and atmosphere would rival A&M's.

As for the schedule, no rest for the wicked, evidently. 3 playoff teams + TN and LSU (who should be much better). I would guess maybe 4 wins with that schedule and that's assuming we are very productive in the portal. We lose a lot of experienced players this year. I was very surprised it looks like Soles will be transferring - wouldn't he have the inside track to be the starter next year? Gotta be about the Benjamins.

[Bourbonman]

Also was at A&M. One of the great road experiences I’ve encountered in SEC, maybe the best.
We’ve already booked rooms for Oklahoma.
Planning on Missouri as well.
This will get me within two SEC road venues.
And yes, brutal schedule (all SEC is) and not expecting much change in the record. Need to see who he can afford to bring in (don’t tell Barnhart of my skepticism about what we can afford) before final judgement. Just should be a more exciting style of football.

[blueheretic]

That is brutal.

Bama and then Tex A&M!

Wow....they hate Kentucky! lol

[Jaxcat]

Also was at A&M. One of the great road experiences I’ve encountered in SEC, maybe the best.
We’ve already booked rooms for Oklahoma.
Planning on Missouri as well.
This will get me within two SEC road venues.
And yes, brutal schedule (all SEC is) and not expecting much change in the record. Need to see who he can afford to bring in (don’t tell Barnhart of my skepticism about what we can afford) before final judgement. Just should be a more exciting style of football.

Attended the MO game a couple of years ago. Nasty weather - cold, damp, overcast. Fans were OK but not overly friendly. Hung out that night in Columbia/campus bars. Felt 1,000 years old. Very typical small, college town. A&M experience >>>, imo.

[EKYCat]

My wife has a really good friend who lives in College Station and works at A&M. We plan on going down for that!

[Sjslhill]

5-7

[EKYCat]

5-7

We could be a better team than we were this year and go 5-7. I see your point. But, we've seen firsthand that college football programs don't take generations of recruiting classes to turn a corner anymore. I know Indiana hasn't played a schedule nearly as brutal but look at them. They went from 3-9 to the playoffs in a single season. In year two they're undefeated and ranked number 1 in the country. They're probably more of an outlier but are proof that it is possible. Vandy is kind of the same story. The right guy at the top who attracts good staff and good players can make an immediate impact.

[Sjslhill]

We could be a better team than we were this year and go 5-7. I see your point. But, we've seen firsthand that college football programs don't take generations of recruiting classes to turn a corner anymore. I know Indiana hasn't played a schedule nearly as brutal but look at them. They went from 3-9 to the playoffs in a single season. In year two they're undefeated and ranked number 1 in the country. They're probably more of an outlier but are proof that it is possible. Vandy is kind of the same story. The right guy at the top who attracts good staff and good players can make an immediate impact.

Unless we find a Mark Cuban we won’t be any better. 9 sec games.