Kentucky opens its 2026 season Saturday when the Wildcats welcome No. 7 Youngstown State to Kroger Field in Lexington, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM ET on SEC Network+. This will be just the second meeting between the programs,

Kentucky football defeats Youngstown State in the season-opener.

The Kentucky Wildcats are hosting the Youngstown State Penguins in a Week 1 college football game at Kroger Field in Lexington. Our live updates:

Kentucky football is embracing its Indiana blueprint, and Will Stein thinks Alabama is vulnerable enough to make believers of everyone.

Kentucky kicks off its 2026 football season on Saturday, facing Youngstown State at Kroger Field (1 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus). It will be the first game as a head coach for new UK mentor Will Stein, who met the media on Tuesday for his first game-week press conference. Stein likes how his team has come out of fall camp.

Kentucky football's 2026 season begins today against Youngstown State at Kroger Field. How to watch UK, streaming info, odds, predictions and more:

Alabama has already done the easy part. Now the Crimson Tide has to go on the road. No. 12 Alabama travels to Kentucky on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Lexington. And this is exactly the kind of game that can make a preseason contender uncomfortable.

Quarterback Kenny Minchey connected on 18 of 27 through the air for 301 yards and four touchdowns as Kentucky opened its season with a 45-13 win over Youngstown State at Kroger Field. The win was the first as a head coach for new UK mentor Will Stein.