2026 Kentucky Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
Kentucky made of the most interesting coaching hires of the offseason by bringing in Will Stein who is considered to be one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. Stein’s track record of producing explosive offenses has generated optimism that the Wildcats can finally take a leap on that side of the ball. After struggling to consistently move the ball and create big plays in recent season, Kentucky is hoping a fresh offensive approach can unlock the potential of its roster.
They also attacked the transfer portal aggressively, adding talent across multiple position groups in an effort to accelerate the rebuild. Those additions should provide immediate competition and help raise the overall talent level of the team. There is a legitimate opportunity for the Wildcats to surprise some opponents if the offense takes the leap they are anticipating.
What’s not to like:
While change is sometimes needed, the biggest concern surrounding Kentucky is just how much change the program is dealing with all at once. The Wildcats enter the season with a new head coach, a revamped coaching staff, and a roster that looks significantly different from a year ago. Building chemistry and establishing a new culture takes time, regardless of how talented the incoming players may be.
There is also the challenge of implementing entirely new schemes on both sides of the ball. Even if the long-term outlook under Stein is promising, there could be some growing pains as players and coaches adjust to new responsibilities and expectations. Kentucky’s success may ultimately depend on how quickly the roster can come together.
What does the Hourglass say?
Kentucky- SEC (3-9)
Power ranking 89.84. The 2nd toughest schedule in the SEC.
2026 Kentucky Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #38- outside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Will Stein- 43rd in Power 5 and 14th in the SEC.
2026 coaching value= 16.8 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Will Stein is ranked lower of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Kenny Michey- ranked 45th in the Power 4, 11th in the SEC; 2026 QB value= 26.2 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Kentucky has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 2. This puts the Wildcats at the lower tier for the SEC in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
The Kentucky program gets their fresh start as new head coach Will Stein brings in new coaches and systems. The Wildcats made significant changes through the coaching staff and transfer portal, giving fans plenty of reasons for optimism. While there will likely be some growing pains as every adjusts to the new system, Kentucky has the opportunity to surprise teams if the offense takes the step many expect.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/5/26 Youngstown- Win
9/12/26 Alabama- Loss
9/19/26 At Texas A&M- Loss
9/26/26 South Alabama- Win
10/3/26 At South Carolina- Loss
10/10/26 LSU- Loss
10/17/26 At Oklahoma- Loss
10/24/26 Vanderbilt- Win
11/7/26 At Tennessee- Loss
11/14/26 Florida- Loss
11/21/26 At Missouri- Loss
11/28/26 Louisville- Loss
