Kentucky Football 2026 Schedule Outlook and Analysis

The Good

The non-conference schedule isn't too bad. Louisville is tough, but that's at home, along with South Alabama and Youngstown State

There might be five road games, but they're all spread out - there aren't two away dates in a row. Three of the four games in September are in Lexington, but ...

The Bad

There aren't two home games in a row after Week 2.

Yes, there are winnable games in the non-conference slate, but after starting the season against Youngstown State, there are just three games against teams that didn't go bowling, and Florida and South Carolina will be far better.

What SEC Teams Kentucky Will Miss

Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas.

Every SEC team is tough in its own way, but not getting to play Arkansas, Auburn, and Mississippi State hurts. There's zero complaining about not dealing with Georgia, Ole Miss, or Texas.

Kentucky’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026

Best Case: UK splits the first two SEC games

Of course, the best case would be to beat Alabama and win at Texas A&M, but trying to be slightly realistic about it.

Throw in wins over Youngstown State and South Alabama, and it's a 3-1 start before upsetting South Carolina on the road.

Things come together in the second half with home wins over Vanderbilt, Florida, and Louisville on the way to an eight-win season.

Worst Case: Losses to Florida and Vanderbilt

The home losses to Vandy and Florida over the second half of the season are devastating. 

Kentucky is plucky, but those are the two SEC games it isn't a decided underdog in.

There's a conference win somewhere, but it would be a right day/right time thing in the worst season for the program since going 2-10 in 213.

Kentucky Football 2026 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 OPEN DATE
Nov 7 at Tennessee
Nov 14 Florida
Nov 21 at Missouri
Nov 28 Louisville

Games That Will Decide Kentucky’s Season

1. at South Carolina, Sept. 26
The Wildcats have lost four straight to the Gamecocks, with the last win in Columbia in 2021. With LSU and at Oklahoma up next, and Alabama and Texas A&M in the rearview mirror, this is big.

2. Vanderbilt. Oct. 24
Okay, enough is enough. Diego Pavia isn't around anymore. The Commodores won over the last two years and three of the last four seasons. If UK is going bowling, this has to be a win.

3. Louisville, Nov. 28
41-0. That's how last year ended. 2024? 41-14 the wrong way. It's time to take this back.